Albury councillors hit pause on massive 29 per cent rate rise plan

Albury City Council has postponed a decision to pursue a significant rate increase of almost 30 percent over two years. The regional council is currently facing a substantial operating deficit. The vote to defer the consideration of this proposed rate rise took place during a council meeting, following community opposition to the initial Special Rate Variation (SRV) proposal.

The revised SRV would have resulted in an annual additional cost of $375 for the average ratepayer. Councillor Jess Kellahan led the motion to defer the SRV until April or May 2027 as part of the development of the 2027-28 Operational Plan and Budget. Kellahan criticized the SRV process, stating it was flawed from the beginning and that the council had not thoroughly examined ways to reduce expenditure or improve efficiency.

She emphasized that deferring the SRV was about taking responsibility for the financial challenges rather than ignoring them. Councillor Kevin Mack opposed the deferral and expressed concerns about the council's lack of awareness regarding the extent of the financial difficulties. The Albury Ratepayers Association, led by President Susan Keighran, urged councillors to reject the proposed increase, citing residents' struggles with cost-of-living pressures and the ineffective measures taken to save money, such as reduced library hours and the closure of the Murray Art Museum Albury on Mondays.

Community advocate Charles Mitchell argued that a 12-month pause would allow the council to identify lasting savings focusing on core services and infrastructure. He stressed the importance of rebuilding trust with the community and called for extensive community consultation and transparency in measuring progress towards financial sustainability.