ARMIDALE Dumaresq Council is encouraging the community to share their views on the proposed special rate variation at a public workshop on Saturday.
It is one of the last opportunities for the Armidale community to hear from council the reasons for a 20 per cent special rate variation.
Ratepayers are urged to provide feedback in a constructive workshop environment before a submission is made to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal on 24 February.
At last month’s ordinary council meeting, councillors resolved to move forward with a 20 per cent increase (not including rate-pegging) ramping up and down over an eight-year period.
It means a 10 per cent increase in year one, with an additional 10 per cent in year two.
This 20 per cent would remain for a further six years.
Council is again calling for written submissions by 5pm Friday, 14 February.
Mayor Laurie Bishop encouraged the community to attend the public workshop.
“This is a great opportunity for the community to discuss the special rate variation and the level of services they expect from council,” Cr Bishop said.
“Council made the decision to go ahead with the staged 20 per cent increase based on feedback council gathered from the community and a desire by all councillors to maintain assets and achieve current levels of service provided to the community.”
Ratepayers will shortly receive a letter from council calculating the specific impact of the rate variation on individual rates accounts.
