Homeowners face rates slug
Daily Telegraph, Friday 1 July 2008 

Homeowners are bracing themselves for more pain after 22 councils across NSW were granted special rate increases of up to 18 per cent. 

But while some are after more money, one council in Sydney’s southwest is considering a bold plan to cut rates to help residents meet rising mortgage, water and electricity charges.

Fairfield City Council is investigating a 0.5 per cent rebate, waiving the 10 per cent penalty interest on unpaid rates and allowing deferred payments. 

Councillor Thang Ngo who proposed the cut, said he was sick of being unable to help residents struggling to pay rates. 

Unfortunately, everyone thinks it’s too big a problem, but I think the way to help is common sense,” he said. 

The highest increase above the 3.2 per cent cap approved by the Local Government Minister Paul Lynch yesterday was for Willoughby Council, at 17.6 per cent. 

Mayor Pat Reilly said the increase would be used to expand the council’s environmental restoration program. 

Residents in councils that lost money in US subprime market collapse are among the hardest hit by higher rate rises. 

Wingecarribee Council, which lost $10.4 million, was granted a rate increase of 16.44 per cent.