The budget debate at the Special Council Meeting last month was expected to be a spicy meal, after hundreds of residents made their opposition to a 3.4 percent rate rise loud and clear.
And it certainly didn’t disappoint.
President Coales immediately swept in with a compromise – a 2.9 percent rate rise.
In order to shave $150,000 off the budget to accommodate the slightly lower rates, President Coales proposed to axe two staff positions – the Engineering Technical Officer, and the Youth Activity Officer – and cut the cemetery role back to four days per week.
The retrofit of The Glades Lake boardwalk would be nixed, as would the ‘Community Perception Survey’ (instead to be done in-house), and the ‘Volunteer Brigade Perception Survey’.
“Rates are not pleasant. Rates are a tax. But we have to pay … to ensure the workings of this shire,” he said.
“I could quite easily sit here and say we’re going to have a 0 percent rate increase, which we could possibly achieve.
“We have gone line by line through the budget to try and reduce the costs to our ratepayers. This is a conservative budget.
“2.9 percent, I believe, is responsible. 2.9 percent, on average, is $1.26 a week … to have a shire that is responsive, to have a shire that listens to you, to have a shire that will do what they can to make this the best place to live in Western Australia.”
But Cr Morgan Byas came out swinging with his arguments against the president’s motion.
“The shire president’s budget which he is presenting tonight is, in my view, one of the most irresponsible and reckless budgets that I’ve seen during my time on council,” he said.
“This [2.9 percent rate rise] is a reasonably modest increase, that is in line with CPI, and is comparable to what our neighbouring local governments are doing. But that’s not what the ratepayers voted for in October 2023.
“The president’s campaign flyer in big bold font says: ‘Why vote for me? Opposed to rates increases’.”
During his right of reply, President Coales explained that he was still opposed to rate increases, which is why he chose to bring a compromise instead of passing the officers’ recommended 3.4 percent rate rise.
“In the seven years I’ve been on council this is one of, if not the lowest rate increases,” he said.
Next it was Cr Shaye Mack’s turn to go for the jugular.
“I do not believe that we, as councillors, have done everything in our power to keep these rates as low as possible,” he said.
“And I believe we could find further savings in this budget. However, all my suggestions at the budget workshops were met with hostilities.
“It was even suggested on a tour of our Serpentine cemetery, that a grave should be dug for any councillors who want no rate increase.”
Cr Mack then attacked Cr Byas over his non-attendance at the last three budget workshops.
“I have not had an opportunity to hear from you what you would have as an alternative,” he said.
“I feel confused about where I want to land with this. I haven’t seen a viable alternative to the 2.9 put forward.
“But at the same time, given the actions I’ve seen go by in the past, I cannot support the increase.”
Cr Nathan Bishop took the opportunity to explain why he thought a rate rise was in the best interests of the community.
“It would certainly be the popular thing to do to oppose any increase in rates,” he said.
“I’ll be honest, I had considered whether being Mr Popular was who I wanted to be tonight.
“But I did not run for council for me or my reputation. I ran to be the change on council I wanted to see.
“It would be dishonest of me to sit here and tell the community we were able to avoid a rate increase and still meet your many and diverse needs, and your expectations.
“This fair proposed rate increase of 2.9 percent will enable us to continue, and perhaps even in some cases begin, addressing the pressing issues, enhance public services and ensure our community keeps pace with its growth.
“As we welcome new residents and businesses, what seems now to be a disproportionate rate burden, will in the future be shared amongst a larger population, reducing the individual impact.
“For the good of our community, we cannot send this local government backwards.”
The budget, with the alternate 2.9 percent rate increase was passed 4:3, with Crs Byas, Mazzini and Mack voting against.
A breakdown of the 2024/25 budget will be included in next week’s edition.
