Two Hobsons Bay councillors have voted against a proposed 5 per cent rates bill increase, saying many families were already under financial pressure.
Many ratepayers will receive an increase higher than the average 5 per cent, based on this year’s revaluation of their property’s capital improved value (CIV).
South Kingsville and Spotswood recorded the biggest growth in CIV at 5.96 and 4.66 per cent respectively.
Seaholme and Altona dropped by 1.69 and nearly 1 per cent, respectively.
Cr Jason Price, who voted against the budget, unsuccessfully fought to defer the budget and go back to the drawing board.
“I’ve got some concerns about our rating strategy,” he told last week’s council meeting.
“In regards to the rate increase, and also revaluation, I can understand there’s a lot of pressure on families and people surviving,”
Cr Peter Hemphill spoke against deferring the budget.
“I think there’s an enormous amount of work that’s gone in to this, and suddenly at the 11th hour and 11th minute and the 59th second, we get some concerns from one councillor,” Cr Hemphill said.
Cr Paul Morgan voted against the budget, saying the rate increase was too much on the back of last year’s 5 per cent rise.
“We can’t keep ratcheting up the rates above CPI and expect that our ratepayers will wear that burden all the time when their incomes don’t increase accordingly,” he said.
Councillors Sandra Wilson, Colleen Gates, Carl Marsich and Hemphill voted for the budget, while Angela Altair abstained from voting.
Commercial and industrial properties will be hit with the biggest rates hikes, after showing CIV growth of 10.53 and 12.73 per cent respectively.
But cultural and recreational land values, including museums and galleries, dropped by 10.38 per cent.
The value of petrochemical plants was down 1.63 per cent.
Residents can provide feedback on the proposed budget until June 4.
