‘Snowflake’s chance in hell’: changing 10 per cent rates discount won’t wash, warns Geraldton councillor Steve Douglas

The City of Greater Geraldton is considering offering a 10 percent discount to residents who pay their rates in full by the due date. The discount would aim to ensure the early collection of rates — putting cash in the City’s coffers and avoiding disruption of services — and would offer financial relief to ratepayers in response to COVID-19. The discount would not apply to rubbish collection and Emergency Services Levy charges, which will remain the same. Councillors voted 10-3 in favour of the 2020/2021 Notice of Intention at the council’s ordinary meeting on April 28. Crs Jerry Clune, Kim Parker and Steve Douglas voted against the motion. Mayor Shane Van Styn, who moved the motion, said the City’s greatest financial risk was collectability of rates. “Cash will be king going forward this year, and we need to know how much we’ve got so that we can quickly and more efficiently either continue to reopen facilities, bring back staff and all those sort of things,” he said. “Without certainty, we’re going to be absolutely flying blind. “On the flipside, it does give people genuine rate relief.” A proposed amendment by Cr Douglas that would see the discount halved to 5 per cent was defeated 7-6. “I do believe that 10 per cent is just taking it a little bit too far, and it’s going to cause us more pain potentially down the track,” Cr Douglas said. “I totally support a discount ... I just don’t agree with the figure.” Mr Van Styn said a 10 per cent discount would be modelled but it would be dropped to 5 per cent if it meant harsh cuts to service levels. But Cr Douglas said this move would be poorly received by ratepayers. “There is absolutely a snowflake’s chance in hell that, once the 10 per cent goes through as a motion, you are then going to go out to the community and say ‘oh, by the way, it’s only 5 per cent’,” he said. “That argument does not stack up in any logical sense whatsoever.” Councillors will continue to deliberate on the 2020/2021 budget before the final budget is handed down in June.