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Engaging the Community on Rates - Ordinary and Business

Parramatta City Council is engaging the community on a submission to the Department of Local Government in April seeking an additional 5% Ordinary Rate increase over four years, above the annual capped 3.2% rise

Under the new Integrated Planning framework the level of community engagement Council working directly with the community throughout the process to ensure that public concerns and aspirations are consistently understood and considered. Council's consultation plan involves the following:

  1. Stratified random phone survey of the community N=500 (95% confidence +/- 3%) (sampling to be completed based on location, and household situation – Pay rates/renting etc….) This is not to include Resident Panel members. To be conducted by an external agency. Why? To inform residents of Council’s intention, the purpose of the variation, understand concerns and aspirations and assist in prioritisation
  2. Website survey of the community (having specialised questions for residents who pay rates, residents that rent, investors and business owners/proprietors) Why? To allow the broader community to engage with Council on this issue, understand concerns and aspirations and assist in prioritisation.
  3. Survey of Resident Panel members N=2250. Why? To inform residents of Council’s intention, the purpose of the variation, understand concerns and aspirations and assist in prioritisation
  4. Five workshops (based on Wards) to be completed to assist in prioritise projects for their area and for the LGA.
  5. Business consultation to consist of a business survey placed onto the website and promoted through appropriate mediums (State of the City, Council held databases etc…), through the Residents Panel members that own businesses in the LGA and also the conducting of 2 focus groups? Why? To inform residents of Council’s intention, the purpose of the variation, understand concerns and aspirations and assist in prioritisation.

Research Objectives

  • To seek community support for an Ordinary Rates rise which will provide additional funding for community projects
  • Educate resident of Councils budget position and actions taken in 2008/09
  • Demonstrate that Council is committed to the provision of high service levels without cutting frontline services.
  • Establish importance ratings for neighbourhoods
  • Prioritise projects based additional funding

Major Findings

Q3. As a resident would you prefer to see a modest increase in Council ordinary rates (on average $10 per year over four years) or a reduction in community services and infrastructure?

Random Telephone

N=505

Residents Panel

N=627

Website

(Broader Community) N=37

Modest increase in Council rates

77.8%

77.7%

83.7%

Reduction in community services and infrastructure

22.2%

22.3%

16.3%


Q3. As a business owner located in the Economic Development Special CBD Infrastructure rates area would you prefer to see a continuation to the rate or a reduction in economic services and infrastructure from Council?

Economic Special rate

N=23

CBD Infrastructure N=17

Workshop

N=11

Proposed continuation in Council rates

75.0%

80.9%

All supported

Reduction in economic development and infrastructure

25.0%

19.1%

Outcome

A submission has been made to the Minister for Local Government (through the Division of Local Government) to increase rates by 5% over four years. A decision from the Minister is pending.

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