We need IPART to refuse the request by Goulburn Mulwaree council as our community cannot afford council’s proposal for an unsustainable 40-51.2% Special Rate Variation.

At a time costs of living have increased to breaking point with fuel costs at record highs, interest rates 5 times higher than 2 years ago, electricity bills skyrocketing, and food prices rising 7.5% in the last year we cannot sustain a rate rise of 40-51.2% over the next year. This rate rise will hit many households hard who are already struggling with cost of living. As an example my own family are already paying $2,000 a year rates on a single income with two young children. Under the first option we would be paying  $1,812 extra over the two years on top of our current $2,000 a year rates or the second option would see us paying $1,535 over 2024-2025. We are already financially stretched with our mortgage repayment already increased by $725 per month in addition to all the other rising living costs mentioned above. I’m not sure where council expects us to find this extra cash in our budgets. Many households are forced to live on one income due to the dire lack of childcare in the region.

“So Council tells us the “need” for the 40/50% SVR is because costs have been outstripping revenue over the last FEW years . Council has stated that restrictions on rate pegging during the two covid lockdown years , increased costs and running down Councils cash reserves have lead to the prospect of future ongoing losses

However - the most recent AUDITED Council Financial Statements (showing Actual 2022 and 2021 figures on the right , and the budgeted 2022 figures on the left hand side ) DO NOT support that claim .

Councils 2021 resulted in a POSITIVE result of $4.142 Million
2022 resulted in a POSITIVE result of $9.385 Million

Note that Council had budgeted for a positive result of $5.754 million in 2022 , which in fact ended up almost $3.6 million better - at $9.385 Million

The audited 2023 Financial Statements are not available at this time” - analysis / research by Nina Dillon (Bachelor of Business and Public Accountant)

The council requires community approval in order to meet the requirements for IPART to approve this special rate rise but Council has demonstrated a disregard towards it’s constituents and a failure in their attempts at community consultation by sending out letters informing us of this SRV proposal too late after they’ve already held four of these community ‘drop ins’. Many residents will be severely impacted by these rate rises and like the rest of us the council needs to tighten their belt, do better budgeting, cut unnecessary spending or apply for more state grants and learn to live within their means. Many households may even be forced to chose between daily essentials such as heating or food and paying their rates in order to keep a roof over their head.

In order to fulfil the requirement for community consultation council must hold these ‘drop in’s’ again with sufficient notice given and hold them on a day and time when working citizens will be able to attend. The Goulburn community does not support this untenable Special Rate Rise application.