Federation councillors will decide on Tuesday whether to apply for a recommended eight per cent rate increase next financial year to help cover the cost of operating Corowa's $10.3 million aquatic centre due to open midway through next year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Council staff have recommended a fees and charges structure for the indoor, outdoor pool complex which still requires an 8 per cent hike in rates or $80.20 per property.
The preferred option among six presented to councillors shows the facility will run at a loss of $627,000 in its first year with estimated income of $516,000 offset by $1.14 million in expenses.
The estimated nett loss over a 10-year period equates to $6.4 million.
IN OTHER NEWS
The council has to make an application to IPART for the special rate variation which the former Corowa Shire successfully did for the 2013-14 financial year.
It saw rates lifted 3.6 per cent above the rate cap at a time when it was among the lowest rating councils in NSW.
If successful the latest rate variation will come into effect in the lead-up to council elections after they were postponed by 12 months due COVID-19.
A special rate variation also formed part of a community satisfaction survey conducted by council in August with support being "mixed", according to report also being tabled on Tuesday.
Of those surveyed 42 per cent were against the big rate increase with 28 per cent in favour and the same number "neutral" on the move.
"The main reasons why residents support the (special rate variation) is that they consider the facilities to be high quality investments that will benefit the area," the report states.
"The main reasons why residents do not support the SRV is that they will not personally benefit from the facilities, in particular residents of Howlong and surrounding areas, and that the current levels of rates is costly enough."
Council also operates summer-only, non-heated pools at Howlong, Oaklands and Urana.
They are also subsidised by ratepayers.