By MATT NICHOLLS
ARMIDALE Dumaresq councillors will tomorrow night vote on whether to proceed with a 20 per cent rate increase at an extraordinary meeting.
The councillors have three options – to continue with the proposed rate increase, to scrap the increase, or to amend the conditions of the rate increase.
Councillor Jim Maher called the extraordinary meeting and wants to drop the rate increase to 10 per cent and give a 12-month exemption to farmers.
His motion reads:
a) That council apply to IPART for a special rate variation of equivalent to 10 per cent on residential, rural residential, business and mining and exempt the farmland category from the application, in recognition of the extreme drought conditions currently prevailing. This is in addition to the rate-pegging rise agreed to by the Minister for Local Government.
b) That council amends the current asset management plans to reflect the source and application of funding.
c) That council conducts a review of the rating categories and how services are funded for each category.
Meanwhile, disgruntled residents have joined forces to create the Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers’ Action Group.
The group formed on Friday in response to Armidale Dumaresq Council’s proposal to apply for a special rate variation of 20 per cent.
Spokeswoman Maria Hitchcock said the action group would give ratepayers an opportunity to present a united voice.
“While the group acknowledges that Armidale has a problem with roads and infrastucture maintenance, it feels that council needs to make a genuine attempt to reduce waste, particularly in the area of administration,” she said.
“High wages and salaries are eating into the budget – leaving little for roads maintenance.”
The Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers’ Action Group is holding a public meeting next Monday at the showground pavilion from 6pm.
“People are requested to write down any comments or suggestions on paper before they come,” Ms Hitchcock said.
“People will also be assisted with the preparation of their own submissions to IPART.”
