Shire of Katanning approves four per cent rate rise in 2025-26 budget, funding roads, town infrastructure

The Shire of Katanning president has assured residents they will see “solid use” of its rate rise, as the shire adopted its 2025-26 budget earlier this month. President Kristy D’Aprile said the rate increase, posed as an average 3.99 per cent increase for gross rental value properties and 3.6 per cent increase for unimproved value properties, was a “conservative” one made in light of the cost-of-living crisis. “I would like to note for the record the challenge that council have in finding a fair and equitable budget to provide for the future of our community,” she said at the July special meeting. “Now, we have made a conservative decision with our rate rise with a lot of regard given to the challenges faced by our community in Katanning and, I guess, the whole of WA in the challenges for the cost of living at the moment. “We have a responsible decision to make, we would like to provide further capital improvements and more social services within our community. “I think we’ve shown quite some restraint to stick with four per cent and I believe that we will, through the efficiencies that we see within our organisation, we will see solid use of that four per cent increase.” The increase is less than the previous two years, which saw 4.5 per cent and 6.85 per cent rises. The revenue will fund a swag of capital works projects, with the flagship item being $10.1m for the Early Childhood Hub Development. Funding will be poured into the Shire’s main roads to fund upgrades to Clive, Arbour, Cove, Amherst and Aberdeen streets. A $100,000 contribution will spruce up the Katanning Central Fire Brigade’s shed, and $10,000 is allocated to construct a cat pound. Amherst Village will see $60,000 worth of improvements, while $360,000 will go towards housing development projects. Works will continue at the cemetery via a $50,000 allocation and $181,000 will be spent on Noongar Story Public Artwork. Expansion for the Katanning Leisure Centre will be catered to with $50,000 set aside for the design planning. The president’s allowance will increase from $38,000 to $41,388 and the deputy president’s allowance from $9,500 to $10,347, while meeting attendance fees for all elected members will stay at $17,000. The budget was approved unanimously on July 7.