Narromine Shire ratepayers will be forking out an extra 5.9 per cent for their rates from today.
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The dawning of the new financial year means an additional rate increase for Narromine Shire.
Despite the public outcry against the 5.9 per cent increase, council decided to go ahead with the application and IPART awarded the rise.
Ratepayers will pay an extra 5.9 per cent on top of last year's rates, requiring the owners of the average town block to pay an extra $35, businesses $88 and farmers $210 this financial year.
Local farmer Col Hamilton said things were hard enough without this extra pressure from the council.
"From a rural ratepayer's perspective council rates and charges go up and up but the services haven't matched the increase," he said.
"The margins are tighter for us."
Without a complete restructure, this could be the only way council could be a functioning business, Mr Hamilton said.
"Without a major restructure we probably need this if council wants to carry on as a business," he said.
"An overwhelming majority opposed it but the general manager said we've listened but we don't have to do what they say which has upset a lot of people,"
- Col Hamilton
Mr Hamilton voiced his opinions at the Trangie public consultation meeting in December.
Council's chief financial officer, general manager and mayor travelled around the three towns in the shire to consult with the community about the application.
An overwhelming majority of community members voted against the rate rise.
Mr Hamilton proposed council not comply with the state government and go out on its own. The mayor told him this was not possible.
"An overwhelming majority opposed it but the general manager said we've listened but we don't have to do what they say which has upset a lot of people," he said.
The rate rise is so Narromine can prove to be Fit For The Future and there will be no forced amalgamation with Dubbo and Wellington.
Council submitted the application to remain a stand-alone council yesterday.
Member for Dubbo Troy Grant said the state government wanted councils to be successful.
"We want our councils to be strong and financially sustainable to meet the needs of our regional communities," he said.
Minister for Local Government, Paul Toole has expressed concerns about the rate rises around NSW as councils prove they're able to stand alone.
"Councils have told IPART that without significant rate increases they would not be able to provide essential services and reduce their infrastructure backlogs," he said.
"We're trying to strengthen the local government sector so we have a better system of local government and to ensure mums and dads and families don't continually have to pay more for basic services."
Narromine Shire Council believes without the rate increase, Narromine would be absorbed into Dubbo.
"The federal government has no money, the state government has no money and they're looking at us to maintain services. It's still a rate rise and it's a very hard thing to sell," Narromine mayor Bill McAnally said.
He believes this is the best way for the shire to be Fit For The Future. Narromine is one of 22 local government areas to receive approval for a special rate increase this financial year.
