Bunbury councillors knock back mayor’s push for small rate rise as residents likely to cop $40 increase

Ratepayers across the City of Bunbury are likely to be hit with a 2.5 per cent increase in their charges this financial year, despite a last-minute attempt from its mayor to slash the expected hike. Councillors voted at an ordinary meeting last week for the chief executive to prepare the organisation’s 2021-22 budget based on the 2.5 per cent increase, with a majority hoping to use the additional finances to boost services across the city. Elected members will then officially decide on the increase at a special meeting next month. The imminent rise would mean residential property owners would have to pay an average of $39.70 more than their current payments in the next financial year. It would be the first increase in two years after every council in the State froze all rates, fees and charges for 2020-21, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Cr Kris Plumb moved the motion and told councillors that the 2.5 per cent increase was the right amount to ensure community assets did not fall behind. “I think 2.5 per cent is a fair and cautious step forward this year,” he said. Cr Wendy Giles agreed with Cr Plumb, saying last year’s zero per cent rate rise put the council behind the eight ball. “We have to think about the future,” she said. “We want to progress, not be stagnant,” she said. City Mayor Gary Brennan fought against the motion and instead pushed for a 1.5 per cent increase, which would only trigger a $23 increase for property owners. Mr Brennan told councillors it was too soon for such a dramatic rise as residents continue to recover from the impacts of the coronavirus. “Let’s proceed cautiously and not consider this year as being normal times,” he said at the meeting. “There is a lot of nervousness about what the rate increase will be. “We have over 3000 businesses in Bunbury and a rate increase of 2.5 per cent would impact all of them significantly.” But his plea fell on deaf ears, as the recommendation was passed by six of 10 members. Cr Brennan told the Bunbury Herald that he respected council’s decision to instruct the chief executive officer to prepare the budget based on a 2.5 per cent increase. The rates increase would also apply to non-residential property owners, who should expect a $247 average increase for the year. The 2.5 per cent increase will also be incorporated in a 2021-22 — 2024-25 Corporate Business Plan and 2022-2033 Long Term Financial Plan, which are both due to be presented to the council by the end of this month. Councillors also adopted its fees and charges for 2021-22, which will be included in the upcoming budget. Mr Brennan, Deputy Mayor Jaysen De San Miguel, Michelle Steck and Karen Turner all voted against the motion. The remaining members at the meeting — Cr Giles, Cr Plumb, Cr Betty McCleary, Cr Karen Steele, Cr Tresslyn Smith and Cr Amanda Yip — were all in favour. The special meeting to consider the budget is due to be held on July 27.