Lismore City Council is asking the community to provide feedback on a proposal to increase rates above the “rate peg”.

The proposal is a 10-year rating strategy that includes a Special Rate Variation to fund roads and economic development that would see the average urban residential rates bill increase by $308 in two years between 2020 and 2222.

The community is also being asked to consider “funding options” for open spaces and sporting/recreational facilities in the future.

Part one of the consultation asks residents to consider a proposed permanent SRV to raise $4.5 million for roads and $1.6 million for economic development annually above the rate pegging limit. It would be introduced over a two-year period (2020/21 and 2021/22).

“The additional $4.5 million for roads would include $4 million for sealed road reconstruction and $500,000 for gravel re-sheeting each year,” council documents say.

“The additional $1.6 million for economic development would fund projects and incentives that increase jobs, drive business and industry growth, support our local businesses to thrive and attract new tourism and investment.”

A council media release did not specify how much average ratepayers’ rates would rise under the proposal.

However, a fact sheet on the council’s Your Say webpage says rates would rise by 17 per cent in 2020-21 and 6.9 per cent in 2021-22.

This equates to an annual increase for the average urban residential ratepayer of $209 in the first year and $99 in the second.

Over four years, that same rate payer would pay $258 more under the SRV than they would if rates were only increased at the rate peg.

Part two of the consultation looks at future rating options. Residents will be asked questions about our open spaces and sporting/recreational facilities including what services are most important to them and if people are willing to consider funding these through a special rate variation in the future.

The length of the community consultation period is two months.

For more detailed information on the proposal, see the community consultation page on the council’s website: https://yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au/rates-consultation

Mayor Isaac Smith in the media release said the council was facing the challenge of balancing community expectations for services with levels of funding.

“Like many NSW councils, we deliver a broad range of services from roads to rubbish collection, parks and playgrounds, cultural activities and events, libraries and swimming pools, environmental protection, and much more,” Cr Smith said.

“The reality council faces is that it cannot continue to provide these current services without more revenue.

“At present, Council’s revenue is regulated by the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). IPART sets a ‘rate peg’ that limits the amount by which councils can increase rates from one year to the next.

“For many years, the rate peg has not kept pace with the increasing cost to maintain our assets and provide services to the community. We are now consulting about a rating strategy that includes a proposed application to IPART to raise rates above the rate pegging limit.”

“We need our community to carefully consider the SRV and longer-term rating options, and give us feedback on how they wish Council to proceed,” Mayor Smith said.

“We encourage all residents and ratepayers to get involved in the community consultation and have their say about the services we provide.”

Residents can complete an online survey, register for a community workshop and/or visit information kiosks and talk face-to-face with staff.

There will also be a random telephone survey of residents conducted by an independent research company in late August.

Feedback is due by 30 September with the results due to come back to the council on November 5. The council will vote on whether to apply for the SRV on November 12 with the application due by February next year.

For further information, to complete the online survey or to register for a community workshop head to: www.yoursay.lismore.nsw.gov.au.

Hard copy information and community surveys are also available at the council’s Corporate Centre, 43 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah, or at the Lismore and Goonellabah Libraries.