Ratepayers on the Northern Beaches were out of pocket $39 million, or the equivalent of $379 per ratepayer, in the 2021/22 financial year due to cost shifting from the NSW Government.
The cost shifting report reveals council paid the highest emergency services levy in 2021/22 at $6.4 million ($62 per ratepayer), which is 28 per cent more than the next highest council (Central Coast Council at $5 million). Council’s emergency services levy has increased to $9.3 million this financial year, equivalent to $90 per ratepayer.
Mayor Sue Heins said increasing cost shifting puts a huge burden on the financial stability of local government.
“Every dollar we pay in levies and subsidies to the state government, is one less dollar we can put into our local roads and footpaths, our parks and community centres or our libraries and events programs.
“Put simply, it constrains our ability to maintain our community infrastructure and sustain the same level of service to our community. our asset management plan (2022 to 2032) identifies an infrastructure funding gap of $151 million over 10 years.
“This is further exacerbated by recent high inflation and the $3.1 million increase in costs to council associated with the emergency services levy this financial year,” mayor Heins said.
Council will write to the premier and relevant state ministers to request that they urgently seek to address the costs through a combination of regulatory reform, budgetary provision and appropriate funding.