2023-24 Budget: Geraldton council keeps cost-of-living pressures in mind with proposed 3 per cent rate rise

Geraldton’s mayor tips ratepayers will have one of the lowest rate rises in the State this year, with staff recommending council sign off on a 3 per cent increase. City of Greater Geraldton councillors will vote on their 2023-24 budget next week, with has a focus on limiting the additional costs placed on ratepayers during the cost-of-living crisis. Budget documents in the agenda forum outline operating expenditure has risen by 6.58 per cent, or $5.7 million, compared with the 2022-23 budget, while operating revenue is expected to rise by 8.35 per cent or $7.1m. The significant factors contributing to the increase in expenditure are predicted wage rises for council staff, and the continual impact of inflation on goods and services. City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the City had been faced with increases in fuel and material costs of as much as 20 per cent. Extra costs felt by the City this financial year include a $400,000 increase in airport security screening services, a $200,000 rise in the landfill contract and bump of $150,000 in its rubbish collection contract. Other big increases in expenditure include a $243,000 contribution to Rovers Football Club and $180,000 on election expenses. The planned capital budget for 2023-24 is $37.2m, expected to be funded from general revenue, reserves and funding provided by Federal and State agencies. The City’s executive staff has proposed an overall rates increase of 3 per cent for residential properties — well below the rate of inflation — compared with last year’s rise of 3.6 per cent. The previous four years had seen rates movements vary between 0 per cent and 2.5 per cent. Mr Van Styn is anticipating the City will have one of the lowest rates rises in the State, as it was not a revaluation year. He said the 3 per cent rise, if adopted, would be applied across the board rather than some areas having to pay a more costly fee. “We’ve been working on the budget since November last year, and through prudent financial management we’ve been able to keep figures as low as possible, while hopefully still delivering key projects for the city,” he said. Councillors will vote for whether they are in favour of the budget on June 27. “We’ve been working on this for a long time, and it’s been made from a series of informed decisions explained to the collective so I expect it will be well received,” Mr Van Styn said.