Berrigan Shire Council will be forced to foot almost $6 million in NSW Government expenses according to CEO Karina Ewer.
Despite the financial burden, she said a special rate variation (SRV) will be the last resort for council.
“That is a significant portion of council's funds that go directly to paying for the outcomes that should be delivered by state government but have been withdrawn from our area,” Ms Ewer said.
“These are things like the increased administration caused by the implementation of the ePlanning Portal by the Department of Planning and Environment, noxious weeds management, pest animal management and the development of Crown Lands Plans of Management, to name a few.”
Berrigan Shire will also be hit with a significant bill for an Emergency Services Levy, previously funded by the state government.
“I was shocked and disappointed to be informed by the newly elected New South Wales government about the removal of the Emergency Services Levy subsidy for 2023/24,” Mayor Matt Hannan said.
“This exercise in cost-shifting from state government to local government, made without consultation with local councils, is a hidden tax applied to each and every ratepayer.
“More than $100,000 in rates levied by council to deliver local services will now instead be siphoned off by the government. I am working with my fellow mayors to have this grossly unfair decision reviewed,” he said.
The NSW Government has pegged rate increases for Berrigan Shire at 3.7 per cent, meaning the total rates income cannot increase above that point unless the council is granted an SRV.
Instead, Berrigan Shire is undertaking a range of service reviews to ensure they are operating efficiently.
“The Local Government Productivity Report reveals councils across the country are operating far more efficiently than their state or federal counterparts,” Ms Ewer said.
“I would like to think Berrigan Shire is among those councils operating as efficiently as possible.
“Where I find we are not operating efficiently, I will look to find solutions, including changing service delivery levels, looking to the private industry to partner with council or to take over relevant functions, or even changing or no longer delivering that service.”
Ms Ewer said these would be difficult conversations to have with the community, but ones that must be undertaken to ensure council can remain financially sustainable into the future.
“Only once I am sure there is no other option would I take a recommendation to council that they consider a special rate variation.
“That is not to say it will not happen here, but it may be that we can keep it as low as is possible, particularly given the financial impacts of council being required to pay for and deliver the services that should be delivered by state government,” she said.
Berrigan Shire will be increasing user charges and fees by 2.5 per cent, according to the draft operational plan.
Mayor Hannan said the council’s review of the delivery program has not materially changed the services provided by the council, other than a renewed commitment to and an extension of the council’s role in visitor information services.
“There is also no material change in how the council delivers the goods and services expected by our communities,” he said when introducing the draft delivery program.
Instead, council proposes to prioritise continued investment in the maintenance and further development of critical physical infrastructure: roads, stormwater, water, sewer and waste management facilities.
Highlights of the draft plans include completing the redevelopment of Tocumwal’s Foreshore Reserve work, which will see the completion of fishing platforms and an amphitheatre and marketing and promoting Berrigan Shire’s lifestyle and liveability.
Upgrades to water treatment plants in Finley and Barooga have also been forecast.
Berrigan Shire’s draft budget and operational plans are open for public comment until 5pm on June 22.
Ratepayers can have their say by writing to council or contacting them via council’s website at www.berriganshire.nsw.gov.au/Council/Have-Your-Say/Draft-Integrated-Plans.