Bridgetown-Greenbushes shire council approves proposed 7.5 per cent rate rise

Ratepayers in the Bridgetown-Greenbushes shire will be hit with a 7.5 per cent rate rise to help the local government body recoup operational costs. The council approved the rate rise on July 25 as part of its 2024-25 budget. It will see minimum payments on general gross rental value and mining gross rental value properties increase by $83, from $1112 to $1195 for the coming financial year. Meanwhile, rural unimproved value properties had their minimums increase from $1378 to $1481, with mining unimproved value properties minimums increased from $211 to $219. During the council meeting, a fact-sheet regarding the decision of the figure was supplied noting the different considerations, efficiency measurements and budget requirements for the 2024-25 year. These included the reduction of management positions, the review of several plans and allocations, as well as the costs of increased salaries, insurance premiums and fees and charges. Shire president Jenny Mountford said the council was not “immune” from the rising costs with the rates to increase to ensure it could continue current services. “It certainly isn’t going to give us any fat in there, but I think the whole point is that local government isn’t immune from all the price increases that everyone is experiencing,” she said. “It’s not going to increase services or do some of the things we were hoping to do, but it would certainly make it so the organisation can function. “Our costs have gone up like everyone else, and fundamentally, it’s our fiscal responsibility to make sure that there’s enough money so the organisation can function. “We are of the opinion, based on information provided to us, that we needed to go the 7.5 (per cent) in order to make sure that we can maintain services at the current level.” Shire chief executive Nicole Gibbs said with rising costs, as well as growing salaries and insurance needs, the local government had to balance out the costs with rises in rates. “The harsh reality all local governments have to face is that we can’t deliver products and services that cost us more to buy than we can sell them for,” she said. “Local government doesn’t make a profit, it’s not like a business that makes profit. “When, for instance, our insurance goes up by 8.5 per cent, if we only charge 3 per cent rates, we can’t pay our insurance.” Ms Gibbs said the shire had been slow to invest in technology which would streamline several financial management operations, with more people needed to do those jobs. “We’ve made sure we’ve got a very formal short to medium-term budget plan in place, so we invest in the technology and need fewer staff,” she said. “(We’re) investing in technology so we don’t get left behind and we can perform our roles efficiently. “Council is committed for the next 12 months in supplementing ratepayers’ money with external funds from the State, Commonwealth and other funding bodies to alleviate some of the pressure on the ratepayers.” In a notice published in the July 10 edition of the Manjimup-Bridgetown Times, the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes said the rate increase would cover a $6.152 million budget deficiency, which are the operational costs for the 2024-25 budget.