PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has endorsed a range of draft budget documents for public exhibition, including the 2025-26 Revenue Policy, Fees and Charges, and Rating Maps.
At the Ordinary Meeting on 17 April, councillors unanimously supported a 28-day display period.
Community feedback will be sought on proposals that include reallocating funds to maintain parks and stormwater services after the exhaustion of reserve funding.
Councillor Rachel Sheppard stressed the importance of the public understanding the draft measures.
“A key element of the rates and charges seen here, is consideration of recouping a portion of the $4.6 million loss due to the rate peg to fund basic services for parks and stormwater.
“The compounding impact of that rate freeze is in fact $44m.”
Cr Nik Lipovac highlighted the financial challenges the Council faces.
“Council continues to face significant financial pressure driven by rising service costs, inflation and limited revenue growth,” he said.
“Some of the items currently listed as unfunded going into the 25/26 financial year, include the Beach Watch partnership program, an Australia Day event, the installation of rescue tubes and the Wauchope Stadium upgrade. “We will also see significant increases in sports fees as well as the addition of some brand new fees.”
Under the proposal, 20 percent of the available rate yield would be used in 2025-26, with an additional 31 percent allocated in 2026-27, equating to an extra $900k and $1.4m respectively for basic service maintenance.
Cr Lisa Intemann spoke in favour of the exhibition motion, adding, “my bottom line is that two rate freezes have led to a loss of an estimated $40m over 10 years of which we are now asking the community to recoup $4.6m of that this year.”
Council will consider community submissions and report back in June 2025.
By Emily GRAHAM
