Rates rise, councillor fees stay the same

Narrogin residents will on average be paying an extra 2 per cent on their rates while councillors will have their remuneration frozen for the 2019-20 financial year.

During last Wednesday's council meeting, councillors voted to adopt the Shire of Narrogin’s 2019-2020 draft budget, which will raise rates by 2 per cent in town, 8.48 per cent in Highbury’s townsite and on GRV — rural, or hobby farm properties — and by 5.49 per cent for farming properties.

Shire president Leigh Ballard said the rate increase demonstrated the council’s commitment to keeping rates low.

“The budget has been prepared with a rate increase of 2 per cent, demonstrating council’s commitment to keeping increases low and, combined with the zero increase in refuse changes, the average residential ratepayer will only have an effective increase of 1.65 per cent, or $30 per annum from last year,” Cr Ballard said.

The rate increases will result in the Shire of Narrogin bringing in a revenue of $4,934,996 while also receiving $1,663,824 from the Federal Government through general purpose financial assistance grants.

Narrogin’s eight councillors will receive $8500 in annual fees for payment of elected members in lieu of individual meeting attendance, the same as the 2018-19 financial year.

Cr Ballard will also have his remuneration frozen at $20,000.

A local government allowance handed to Cr Ballard and deputy Shire president Tim Wiese for their duties will remain at $23,500 and $5875 respectively.