Updates

85% of survey respondents agree to proposed rate increases

The Community overwhelmingly supports the intended Special Rates Variations according to an independent report from IRIS Research.

IRIS Research was commissioned by Council to conduct a comprehensive telephone-based survey among the area’s residents. The survey sought to gauge community support and reaction to the proposed rating options.

The key finding of the survey was the overwhelming majority (85.9%) of residents in the Junee Shire supported a special rate variation to cover the gap in funding for renewal and reseals of roads, rather than the alternative of reducing the levels of services to other areas.

“The result confirms the community’s understanding of the issues at play. This time around, the Council was able to provide more detail to the public on what roads the additional revenue would be spent on, the efficiencies the Council has put in place over the last 10 years and what types of service would be reduced if no rate rises were generated through Special Rates Variations”, General Manager James Davis said.

The rationale for the proposed rate increases is to secure a financially sustainable position for the Council for both the short and medium term. For a number of years, the Council’s operating budget has not generated the surpluses needed to appropriately fund the services council provides to the community including the maintenance and renewal of our road network.

One of the pleasing results to come from the survey was the uniform response across the Shire. There were around 110 rural residents surveyed, as well as 270 Junee town residents and about 30 residents from our villages. Residents of Junee demonstrated a real appreciation for the need to keep the condition of all roads across the shire to acceptable levels, even those in rural areas.

Mr James Davis, General Manager Junee Shire Council, was delighted to receive an invitation to a Senior Citizens weekly meeting to explain the pros and cons of the proposed Special Rates Variation (SRV). About 15 people attended the meeting and while anxious about the proposed rate increases, the audience was provided with sufficient infomration to help them respond to the current community consultation.

Residents can download the complete IRIS report by clicking on the following link:

Download: IRIS Special Rate Variation Report 2013