Council to pursue special rates variation application
Central Coast Council will formally apply to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal to maintain rates at their current levels for additional seven years, 10 years in total to 2031.
Administrator Mr Rik Hart said the "temporary Special Variation of 15 per cent determined by IPART in May 2021 is already included in the rates which have been applied for the 2021-22 financial year".
"Maintaining the rates at current levels means Council can maintain services, continue productivity improvements and meet debt repayments," Mr Hart said.
"It is clear from consulting with residents and ratepayers that they want services maintained, and in many instances expect Council to invest more in services," Mr Hart said.
Mr Hart said: "Extensive community consultation about the proposal has been undertaken since the end of September.
"Over the last four months ratepayers and residents have been engaged via stakeholder meetings, direct submissions, a Community Reference Group and surveys exploring usage and satisfaction in services.
"We had no choice but to place Council's key strategic documents on public exhibition over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, due to the timeframes and required actions that from part of the submission process," Mr Hart said.
"The community has had multiple opportunities to comment over the past 12 months and will have further opportunity to have their say through the IPART consultation process that follows Council's submission, as well these important strategic documents will be re-exhibited in April to allow for further comment," Mr Hart said.
SOURCE:
Central Coast Council agenda, 3 Feb 2022