PLAYFORD Council has voted to include a 0.45 per cent rate increase in its draft 2020-21 Annual Business Plan and budget, which will now be released for public consultation.
In late April, councillors elected to hold off releasing its budget for public comment to await further information from local government minister Stephan Knoll amidst the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This initial draft was predicated on a 0.75 per cent rate increase, with a further two per cent due to inflation offset by “council savings”.
At a special meeting last Tuesday, a motion to raise rates by 1.5 per cent was rejected by elected members, who instead voted for a 0.45 per cent rise.
Three councillors, Shirley Halls, Misty Norris and Katrina Stroet voted against the 0.45 per cent rise.
Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty said he was happy with how the budget had been put together during difficult financial times.
“It’s an opportunity for further development to occur in Playford, while cognisant of the fact we need to keep any rate increase as low as possible,” he said.
“Council has worked hard to find savings in its budgets over many years to try and keep rate increases as low as possible.
“This is an option we’re putting out there, but council hasn’t made a final decision as we wait to hear feedback from the community.”
Council also reaffirmed its position on holding some form of public meeting to hear verbal responses to the public consultation process, despite new State Government regulations for local government removing a requirement to do so.
Anyone wishing to make a representation will need to pre-register and can make their speech via Zoom or in person at the June meeting of council’s services committee.
“Council have elected to keep a public hearing, subject to government guidelines,” Mr Docherty said.
“We know with the COVID-19 situation that things are changing day to day. We’ll work through how that will look… but we’ll still base this on the guidelines set by the government.”