Coorong council promises better roads, footpaths in exchange for higher rates
The district’s councillors have unveiled their draft budget for 2022-23.
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More road re-sheeting and new footpaths will be among the benefits to Coorong ratepayers of a proposed property rate hike in July.
The Coorong council has proposed to increase property rates by three per cent in its draft 2022-23 budget.
That’s less than the rate of inflation, but skyrocketing property valuations – with increases of up to 28% – will put bigger bills in property owners’ letterboxes.
The draft budget proposes changes to the way rates bills are calculated, too, with a $100 lower fixed charge per property and new rating categories for commercial property owners.
Shop and office owners would pay a much lower rate in the dollar, while owners of other commercial premises would pay more.
In return, the council plans to grade 60 kilometres of unsealed roads over the next financial year, up from 40km in previous years.
It also hopes to start work on a strategic expansion of its footpath network at Tailem Bend and in other towns.
Other major projects will include a $110,000 upgrade of Wattle Street at Tailem Bend and $110,000 worth of improvements to the town's train park.
The council will spend a total of $16.3 million in 2022-23, aided by $4.6 million worth of grants from other levels of government.
Mayor Paul Simmons said the budget would be financially responsible, and would benefit both future generations and the new council which would be elected in November.
Community members will have an opportunity to have their say about the draft budget at public meetings to be held around the district next week, including at Tailem Bend Town Hall at 6pm next Thursday.
- Read the draft budget: www.coorong.sa.gov.au.
- Have your say: Fill in the survey at www.surveymonkey.com, email council@coorong.sa.gov.au, write to PO Box 399, Tailem Bend SA 5260 or visit any council office during business hours before 9am on June 10.
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