Mandurah councillor calls for no rate rises due to cost-of-living pressures

The City of Mandurah council has proposed a 3.98 per cent rates increase as part of its long-term financial plan but one councillor is urging a freeze on rate rises due to the rising cost of living.

The 10-year rolling plan, which went before the council at its April 23 meeting, proposed a 3.98 per cent increase in rates for the next financial year, followed by increases of 3.78, 3.25 and 3.18 per cent over the following three financial years.

In a letter sent to Mandurah Times, Cr Ryan Burns laid out his opposition to the plan, which he voiced during the meeting.

Cr Burns, pictured, said he was advocating for no rate increase this year “and likely the same next year”.

“My position is that we should not be increasing our rates at all this year,” he said.

“We are all aware of the cost-of-living pressures our community faces.

“I acknowledge the importance of a balanced budget and the need to not shift financial burdens to future generations.

“I acknowledge the city’s plan to ensure we have sufficient funds to meet our capital renewals program.

“I’m not suggesting we compromise this. Yes, I’m aware of what this (not increasing rates) means; it means for each of the services we offer, we either do less, we do better or we don’t do at all.”

The proposed rates rise comes as people are increasingly finding it hard to make ends meet.

Data recently released by Triple P Parenting showed almost nine in 10 parents surveyed from a group of more than 8300 have had to cut back on spending because of cost-of-living pressures.

The financial plan acknowledges the situation that residents may be facing, saying “the capacity of the local community to pay has, in broad terms, eroded over the past few years”.

“Price increases … have exceeded average wage growth in WA by more than double since June 2021,” it said.

“This has created cost-of-living pressures for many in the community.”