The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale’s plan to raise rates by 3.4 percent in line with Perth CPI, is categorically on the nose, with 253 locals making their official objections known.
“Are you kidding? No one can afford to pay this stinking shire any more in rates. How out of touch are you all?” one objector said.
“Fringe suburbs are meant to be cheaper to live in. That’s why people come to the fringe suburbs. You have rates higher than Dalkeith and Applecross here.”
Around 60 percent of objections came from Byford residents, with the remaining 40 percent fairly evenly distributed across the shire.
The most common reason for dissent was that another rate rise was out of touch with the financial hardship being experienced by many during this cost-of-living crisis.
“Families in this area are forgoing necessities as it is, increasing rates is absolutely not in the best interests of the people of the shire,” one said.
“If you put the rates up you may have a few people committing suicide due to cost of living,” said another.
“I can’t afford the cost of living already and am already under so much stress as a single parent to get food on the table,” another pleaded.
“I have cut back everywhere possible. Please don’t make things even harder when it is possible to put it off longer. People are already drowning.”
“As a local teacher and resident here in Byford, I see the effects the cost of living is having on our families. Already, teachers fork out a lot of money to make our classrooms feel like a safe place for our students. Lately, we are seeing more students come to school hungry, tired and quite frankly, aware that their families are struggling financially,” said one local educator.
“Personally, I have bought some snacks, fruit, water bottles and even a couch using my own money.
“Sadly, I’m feeling the pinch too which means I can’t afford to keep doing this. It is not sustainable. Rate rises ultimately impact the wellbeing of every community member: young or old. Rate rises are the last thing our families need in this community.”
Others were quick to point out that they were seeing little value for money already.
“I don’t believe there should be any increase in rates to ratepayers as the services and improvements offered by the shire for the amount we already pay is substandard compared to many other shires,” one objector said.
“I already pay more than my mother does in her area and it is well shown what they do with the money, a well-maintained area in Gosnells. Why are we paying more for less of a result? Pathetic,” said another.
“Serpentine already receives very little for the rates we pay. We are seriously lacking in upkeep of roads and pathways, and common use areas are not upkept with weeding etc. Hardly any street lighting. A very lacking waste service after the closure of the transfer station. If we are already getting very little service for the rates we pay, why pay more?” One Serpentine resident pointed out.
There were also a few objectors who took direct aim at the shire president.
“[The] current president promised to not raise the rates as their campaign slogan. Rob Coales, you let us all down,” one resident seethed.
But for all the vitriol directed at the shire over the contemplation of this rate rise, officers have decided to stick to their guns.
“The submissions were considered by officers but have not altered the officer recommendation,” they said in their report to council.
That decision will not help with the popular public perception that locals’ voices are being ignored by their local government.
Ultimately, it will be councillors who have the final say tonight when the budget is put under the microscope at a Special Council Meeting.
