ARMIDALE Dumaresq Council is set to introduce a 20 per cent rate rise over two years, after councillors agreed to the increase on Monday night.
The council will now submit its request to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, which will determine whether the rate rise is appropriate.
If approved, ratepayers will face a general rates increase by 10 per cent in 2014-’15, followed by another 10 per cent increase in 2015-’16.
Each increase would be for seven years.
It means that about 80 per cent of ratepayers will have their rates increase around $140 per year.
The rate increase does not apply to water, sewage and waste.
Mayor Laurie Bishop said the extra money would be directed to roads and bridges, drainage, recreational facilities and property.
Council consulted heavily with the community prior to Monday night’s meeting, and while most residents were opposed to a rate rise, the preffered option was to have two 10 per cent increases, rather than a 20 per cent rise in one year.
