Capel ratepayers to be slugged with double-digit rate rise as council passes annual budget

Shire of Capel councillors have encouraged ratepayers not happy with the more than 15 per cent rate rise to run for a seat at the table if they believe they can do a better job tackling tough decisions. The swipe came as councillors spent nearly an hour discussing the 2024-25 budget during last week’s meeting, which once adopted confirmed the shire’s rate revenue would rise by more than $2.5 million compared to last year. The eye-watering increase in residential rates has been blamed on delayed Landgate revaluations in the shire, causing residential land values to increase by an average of 48 per cent. The shire-set rate in the dollar will be lower than last year but it won’t be lowered enough to offset the revaluations — meaning the average rate will still rise by 15.5 per cent. While councillors expressed their gratitude for the 27 formal submissions made during the consultation process, some took aim at the residents who “are never happy” with council decisions. Cr Christine Terrantroy said she valued and thanked residents for writing their submissions but urged those who could not be pleased to run for council themselves. “We have lowered the rate in the dollar, I spend a lot of time on Facebook putting out factual information for people and in the end the conversation petered out because the people on Facebook out there who are watching could see that what I was saying was true,” she said. “There are still going to be some people who are never happy with whatever the shire council does. “I would actually ask anyone who thinks they could come and sit at this table and do a better job than the councillors at this table, put your hand up, go for election.” Later in the night, Cr Ashley Dillon made a similar remark, telling those upset to take action through the democratic process. “To echo what Cr Terrantroy said, if you don’t like the decisions this group of people (council) are making, local government elections are happening next year,” he said. “If you want this seat, by all means come and take it.” Income for the shire will total $37.7 million with rate revenue estimated to hit $18.6 million with capital grants, subsidies and contributions the other major source with $11.6 million. Employee costs are tipped to rise by nearly $3 million to $13.2 million while material and contract costs will exceed last year’s spending by more than $4 million to now sit at $14 million. The budget will have a relatively small deficit of $4650. The council passed the budget in two blocks with the first including the passing of rates, fees and charges as well as adopting the budget paper. It passed six votes to two with councillors Peter McCleery and Rosina Mogg both voting against. Shire president Doug Kitchen said setting the budget was not easy, but was a necessary action. “It’s never an easy task setting the budget, and as happens with local government and the way it operates, (it’s) continually asking people for more of their money and that is what we’re doing,” he said. “What I’ve found is when you need people to believe you, you tell them the truth and the truth is it is a difficult year and we’ve heard all the explanations around the room, the GRV revaluations, the state of the economy, they’re all various factors. “You can look at the budget in multiple ways and counteract it with different counterfactuals and you can land anywhere to try and justify what needs to occur. “What we have proposed and adopted back in June on the 12th, and it’s been advertised to the community, is the correct way forward.” The second vote detailed rate payment options along with adopting other documents. It passed seven votes to one with Cr Mogg the only dissident. While there was indication earlier in the night Cr Mogg would propose an amendment reducing interest on rate payments which were done in instalments or were late, she did not officially foreshadow it or speak against the motion when the time came. She instead opted to foreshadow a motion for the next council meeting addressing her concerns.