Councillors opt for lower 4 per cent rates increase

Rockingham’s rates are set for a moderate 4 per cent increase in 2016-17, after City councillors voted in favour of the reduced figure rather than sticking to 5 per cent last night.

With Councillors Kelly McManus and Matthew Whitfield not present, the eight remaining votes were split 4-4, leaving the decision to Mayor Barry Sammels.

Despite personally voting to keep the rates at 5 per cent, Mr Sammels said he wanted to get the rates set one way or the other at next month’s meeting.

With the final decision needing an absolute majority to be adopted, the prospect of the issue rolling over the next couple of months was a possibility.

Pre-empting that absent Crs McManus and Whitfield would vote in favour of 4 rather than 5 per cent, Mr Sammels went against his personal view and opted to side for the lower figure to avoid the decision being deferred.

Cr Leigh Liley had put forward an alternate motion for the reduced increase, stating “it was not about winning a popularity competition but listening to the community.”

This was contested by Cr Elliott, who called for consistency in decision making.

The Comet Bay Ward councillor said the difference between 4 per cent and 5 per cent for ratepayers would be negligible and over the course of the year would represent $11 more or less in the people’s pockets.

However, this would take $700,000 out of the City’s budget for 2016-17, he said, while if this rate of increase was adopted for the entire 10-year business plan it would reduce collective rates by $58 million over a decade.

Cr Lee Downham voted in favour of the reduced figure, stating it was “absolutely critical” that the City look at alternative sources of income, while Cr Katherine Summers said the council was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The 4 per cent rates increase looks set to be adopted at next month’s council meeting on Tuesday, June 28.