❓ Hon. Samantha Rowe questions the adequacy of the government's funding for local government amalgamations and potential rate increases in Belmont and Kalamunda. The Minister responds that funding is for transition costs and rate levels are determined by local governments.
AnsweredQoN 527Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
— AMALGAMATIONS — FUNDING
527. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the
minister representing the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to comments made in recent days by the president of
the Western Australian Local Government Association, Troy Pickard, that indicated
that the government's loan scheme to assist councils being forcibly
merged is insufficient and that rates will inevitably rise to meet the costs of
the reform.
(1) Does the
government believe that the rates of residents in Belmont and Kalamunda will
rise to meet the costs of the merger?
(2) If no to
(1), what assurances can be made to ratepayers that their rates will not rise
as a direct result of the merger?
— AMALGAMATIONS — FUNDING
527. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the
minister representing the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to comments made in recent days by the president of
the Western Australian Local Government Association, Troy Pickard, that indicated
that the government's loan scheme to assist councils being forcibly
merged is insufficient and that rates will inevitably rise to meet the costs of
the reform.
(1) Does the
government believe that the rates of residents in Belmont and Kalamunda will
rise to meet the costs of the merger?
(2) If no to
(1), what assurances can be made to ratepayers that their rates will not rise
as a direct result of the merger?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1)–(2)
The state government has provided a $60 million assistance package for local
government reform. This funding is for one-off transition costs, with ongoing
savings being retained by local governments. Net transition costs will be
decided by local governments themselves as they make decisions about, for
example, office accommodation and asset duplication. It is up to local
governments to determine the level of rates needed to deliver community
projects, services and infrastructure.
(1)–(2)
The state government has provided a $60 million assistance package for local
government reform. This funding is for one-off transition costs, with ongoing
savings being retained by local governments. Net transition costs will be
decided by local governments themselves as they make decisions about, for
example, office accommodation and asset duplication. It is up to local
governments to determine the level of rates needed to deliver community
projects, services and infrastructure.
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