By MATT NICHOLLS
ARMIDALE residents are likely to face a 20 per cent rate increase over two years, it was revealed on Monday.
Armidale Dumaresq Council general manager Shane Burns said at a press conference that that early feedback between the council and ratepayers was indicating a 20 per cent rate rise over two years was the preferred option.
Mr Burns said further consultation would continue with the community, but a recently completed phone survey indidicated residents were not prepared to be hit with a 20 per cent increase in one year.
“We’ve given the ratepayers three options. The first is a 20 per cent rise over one year, the second is a 20 per cent rise over two years, while the third is no rate increase at all,” he said.
“The third option is not really an option, but we are obliged to provide that option.”
Mr Burns said although the completed data had not been received from the telephone survey that spoke to 300 residents, the initial results said ratepayers were not willing to accept a 20 per cent hit in one year.
“The feedback we got said nine per cent were willing to pay the full 20 per cent increase, while 45 per cent were OK to pay it over two years,” he said.
“A further 43 per cent said they wanted no increase at all, while the remaining two or three per cent said they were unsure.”
Mayor Laurie Bishop said the rates on water, sewage and waste would not be increased.
“This is just a general rates increase and that’s to try and bring in an additional $2.1 million,” he said.
Cr Bishop said the money would be directed to roads and bridges, drainage, recreational facilities and property.
Council plans to run an online survey before assessing the best option forward and submitting its request to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.
Cr Bishop said that if a 20 per cent increase was approved, it would mean the majority of ratepayers would be paying an additional $140 per year.
“About 80 per cent of ratepayers fall into that bracket,” he said.
“Some will, of course, pay more.”
