The state government's decision to cap all NSW councils rates at 2.6 per cent could add more fuel to a fire already raging around Sutherland Shire Council's proposal to add an extra 6 per cent special levy to rates.
Public submissions on the infrastructure levy closed last week, with an estimated 2500 submissions coming in.
The number of public submissions in support or against the extra rate increase was yet to be made public after council scrutiny.
But it's not too late to have your say here. Just click on the comment link below the story to share your opinion with other readers.
Effectively, now that the state government has set the 2.6 per cent cap on rates, the shire's ratepayers would pay 8.6 per cent extra should the extra levy be approved.
The plan has proven controversial, bringing a flood of letters and online comment from readers.
The Leader brought you the case for and against with Mayor Lorraine Kelly and Cr Kent Johns in a debate recorded at Sutherland Shire Council and moderated by former Caringbah High student Jackson Wright-Smith, 18, of Blakehurst.
Click here to vote on who you think won the levy debate.
LEVY CASE EXTENDED
Cr Lorraine Kelly said last week her head was on the political chopping block over plans to increase rates through a 6 per cent special levy.
Cr Kelly made the comment during heated debate at Monday night's council meeting.
After much discussion, some name-calling followed by apologies for the name-calling, a decision was made to give ratepayers an extra fortnight to comment on the proposed infrastructure levy.
The feedback period has now been extended until February 12.
Cr Kelly said 2000 people had already commented on the levy, which would effectively allow the council to raise rates above the amount approved by the State Government which is currently set at 3.5 percent.
Should the levy be approved, it would be applied from 2011 to 2016 and would form the basis of a plan to replace and upgrade the shire's ageing infrastructure.
The levy would net $30 million over five years, with some of the money going towards upgrading public toilets, Sutherland Entertainment Centre, playing fields and playgrounds.
The plan also involves the council borrowing $2.25 million in 2010/11 and $2.9 million in 2011/12.
The council faces a $21.3 million funding shortfall during the next five years.
Cr Kelly said services and facilities would be cut if the levy was not approved. She said $21.3 million of the expected $30.05 million raised from the levy was needed to cover funding shortfalls, with the remaining $9.2 million to be injected into major infrastructure upgrades and improvements.
The levy has been a hot topic since the matter was first raised last year. Some councillors and ratepayers objected to a brochure on the subject being sent out just before Christmas.
In a Leader story Sutherland Shire Levy: hit or myth?Cr Kent Johns posted a comment saying that ''I concur with Mr Kerr and as a Councillor on Sutherland Shire Council will not be supporting this rate rise of up to 9.5%.''
See related stories:
Sutherland Shire levy
Click on the comment link below to have your say on the proposed levy.
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