11 May

Armidale. Applied for a special rate variation (SRV) of 58.8% last year. This was on top of a 10.5% SRV it had approved in 2021-22. It was approved because the independent regulator saw that the Armidale Council had nowhere near enough money to continue to provide basic services to the town. This is happening across the State. Decades of underfunding of public infrastructure are coming home to roost. Social media goes to war against councils, but our culture has to ask some serious questions about its priorities. You can see the long list of variations from just last year, here: https://www.ipart.nsw.gov.au/Home/Industries/Local-Government/Reviews/Special-Variations-Minimum-Rates/Special-Variations-Minimum-Rates-2023-24#