Caps on Rates and Levies Will Short-Change Communities
By Ben Kruse
USU General Secretary
Jun 4, 2010
The imposition of a $20,000 cap on developer levies, alongside the
continuation of rate-pegging, will leave local communities short-changed
on vital infrastructure and services, according to the United Service
Union (USU).
USU General Secretary Ben Kruse today said the $20,000 cap on developer levies, tipped to be included in the State Budget, would deprive councils of funding for local infrastructure such as parks, swimming pools and child care centres.
"The State Government appears to be taking a limited view of infrastructure. Successful communities need more than just the essential road, water and sewerage infrastructure.
"Limiting the contribution of developers would see the financial burden for providing other important community infrastructure falling back onto the shoulders of ratepayers."
Mr Kruse welcomed the idea of 'de-politicising' decisions on rates by moving Ministerial powers to IPART - however the issue of rate pegging remains a major problem for local councils.
"The heart of the problem in local government funding is the maintenance of rate pegging.
"The role of IPART should be limited to setting minimum increase for council rates to ensure that councils are adequately funded to provide core services.
"Final discretion on the level of rates, beyond the minimum level set by IPART, should lie with the councils themselves."
Mr Kruse said significant policy decisions on local government should not be taken without extensive community consultation.
"It is disappointing that major changes to local government funding frameworks are being canvassed without the input of council, councils workers or local communities.
"We call on the Treasurer, Minister for Local Government and Minister for Planning to come clean on proposed changes to the way local services are funded.
"The public deserves to know what is being planned, and whether or not they are going to be left short-changed."
For more information please call:
Ben Kruse, 0419 623 984
Natasha Webb, 0410 729 594
Contact:
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