Public meeting about rates in Yass tonight

COUNCIL: Yass residents will get to have their say on the proposed rate rises set to take effect next year in Yass Valley Council’s bid to remain a stand alone entity.

Community consultations have already been held in Bookham, Gundaroo, Wee Jasper, Sutton and Binalong.

Mayor Rowena Abbey said the community consultations had been progressing well, with a majority of attendees convinced a merger would have a devastating effect on the provision of services.

“Sutton briefly thought of Queanbeyan as a possible merger partner,” but a majority of those attending the meeting were against amalgamation, she told Scoop.

“People aren’t terribly excited about a rate rise and they are interested in where the money is going to be spent, which is part of this consultation,” she said.

A majority of the spend would be on roads and bridges.

“People will get a say in how we spend the money.

“There will be a pool of money raised from the SRV and therefore we’re undergoing community consultation on how that money is spent, but we are committed to spend it mostly on roads and bridges.”

Council is proposing a special rate variation of 8.5 per cent per annum over four years from 2016/17, a cumulative increase of 38.6 per cent over that time. 

Two and a half per cent of this annual increase (or 12.6 per cent cumulative) comprises the usual rate peg increase with an additional six per cent each year representing the additional increase from the special rate variation.

The bid to stand alone and not merge with neighbouring councils is based on factors such as continuing to maintain a Yass Valley identity, continuing to control the shire’s future given its strong population growth and opportunities from our close proximity to the ACT.

Council wants decisions about this area to be made by people representing Yass Valley and believe a merger with neighbouring councils would see a shift in focus away from the needs of this community. 

“We don’t believe it is in the best interests of Yass Valley to be part of a ‘super council’, covering a very large geographic area which would be difficult to service and maintain.
“We believe that remaining a standalone council puts us in the best position to have lower rates than we would under a merged entity, even taking into account the proposed SRV,” they have previously said.

The meeting starts at 6.30pm at Yass Soldiers Club this evening.

Council has provided comparison rates with neighbouring shires.

Representatives of Yass Valley Council have been visiting villages to discuss the proposed Special Rate Variation. PHOTO: Yass Valley Council