Shire of Denmark backtracks on controversial rates hike as council backs 4 per cent increase

Denmark rates will rise by 4 per cent after a controversial proposal to increase rates by 6 per cent was quashed by councillors. After more than an hour of debate at a special meeting on Tuesday, councillors unanimously endorsed an amendment moved by Cr Geoff Bowley to reduce the officer-recommended rate rise by 2 per cent. Cr Bowley’s amendment — which will see a reduction in the Shire’s rates revenue by $134,949 covered by a transfer from the infrastructure reserve — secured the support of four councillors before it was unanimously adopted. Shire president Ceinwen Gearon, Cr Mark Allen and Cr Kingsley Gibson initially voted against the amendment. The proposed 6 per cent rates hike aimed to increase the Shire’s rates revenue by about $600,000 to $7.1m after rates were frozen last year. Cr Bowley urged councillors to consider the impact on ratepayers, noting the Shire’s long-term financial plan recommended a 4 per cent annual increase. He said the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic were not over and urged council to reach a “point of stability” before increasing rates, suggesting they could consider increasing rates in the future to “catch up”. Cr Roger Seeney said “any rate in excess of 4 per cent will impose too much of a financial burden on our community”. Cr Gearon said a substantial amount of planning had gone into the budget to get the “long-term financial plan back on track”. “In essence ... we have had an average of 3 per cent over two years,” she said. “The economic impact (of COVID-19) on Denmark has been remarkably little ... there may be some individuals who have suffered. “But on the whole the economy of Denmark has thrived throughout this pandemic.” Denmark councillors will receive a pay rise of $15,000 in combined remuneration for the nine elected members. The Shire president will receive nearly $11,000 more this year, bringing their total pay to $38,351. In the City of Albany, Cr Gearon’s counterpart Mayor Dennis Wellington is set to receive total pay of $137,269 in 2021-22. After the meeting, Shire of Denmark chief executive David Schober said the budget was “a great result for the community”. “Council have adopted a budget which they feel will allow the Shire to meet community expectations of service delivery and fiscal responsibility,” he said. “Prudent and conservative financial management by officers has allowed council to be in a position to make the decision they have and we will continue to operate in that manner.”