Council leaders will meet tomorrow to find
solutions that better shield property owners
from steep rate rises caused by spikes in
real estate values.
On the eve of a
special meeting of the Local Government
Association (LGA) State executive committee,
LGA President John Legoe said he would be
pushing to have any required amendments to
State legislation in place before councils
consider their 2005/06 budgets.
"There are concerns and we are committed
to finding solutions," said Councillor Legoe.
"I am looking for a response to these
issues, which will incorporate both
immediate legislative action and a more
considered review of the pressures on local
government finances. "We will also want to
consult with Councils, the State and others
on the proposals identified today."
While the relationship between property
values and council rates - and the
introduction of rolling three-year
valuations as a possible cushion to sharp
increases - is high on the agenda, other
matters to be considered include:
- An independent enquiry into local
government finances;
- Cessation of unfair cost-shifting to
councils from other levels of
government;
- An independent audit of councils'
rating processes and practices; and
- Inequitable Commonwealth funding to
councils in South Australia.
"We will consider all proposals to
improve and make council revenue collection
as fair and affordable as possible," said Cr
Legoe.
"We will work with councils, the State
Government and the community to consider
recommendations that come out of the
workshop. We want to make sure that ours is
the best possible system, that there is no
other system that could do a better job
without disadvantaging communities or
restricting economic growth.
"We want to achieve a just system for
all."
