Published on Wednesday, 8 June 2022 at 10:30:00 AM

The City of Vincent is seeking feedback on its differential rating strategy for the 2022-23 financial year, which includes a proposed $2 a week increase to the median household’s rates bill.

At the 7 June Special Council Meeting, Council voted to advertise its differential rating strategy for public consultation.

This strategy continues Vincent’s progress toward long term financial sustainability and a responsible approach to financial and asset management.

Vincent is proposing a 7.6 per cent rate increase, 2.1 per cent of which will go towards establishing an underground power rolling fund to provide longer payback periods for ratepayer contributions, for current and future projects.

As the sixth lowest rating Council in the Perth metropolitan area, the proposed rate rise equates to $2 extra per week, or $104 a year for the median households.

The proposed differential rates:

The proposed differential rates follows from residents having a rate increase of just 2.4 per cent and commercial rate freezes over the past two years.

Mayor Emma Cole said from the rating strategy was carefully considered to set Vincent up for a bright future.

“It was important for us to support our community through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and we kept rates to an absolute minimum over the past two years,” she said.

“At the same time, Vincent experienced revenue losses and is now facing external cost pressures and rising inflation.

“Our financial maturity sets us up to face these financial headwinds responsibly and with a focus on our long term sustainability.

“We do provide very good value for money considering we are the 6th lowest rating of 29 metro local governments.

“We also receive positive feedback from our community about the quality of our parks, town centres and services, and we want this to continue.”

In a bid to reduce the rate rise burden on ratepayers, Vincent is also proposing a reduction in free parking in its car parks from 1 hour to 30 minutes.

“Vincent has had 1 hour free parking in our car parks for 11 years, with many car parks in high demand, especially during peak periods,” Ms Cole said.

“The revenue from reducing the free parking period is equivalent to a 2.8 per cent rate increase and shifts the cost of providing parking services to users, for example, the 83 per cent of consumers in Leederville who are non-residents.

“We want to hear the public’s views on the proposed parking change before we adopt the draft Budget 2022-23.

“If approved, the transition to 30 minute free parking in our car parks will start on 1 October.”

These parking changes reflect the objectives of the Accessible City Strategy 2020-2030, with a focus on demand-responsive pricing to encourage greater turnover, more visitors and reduce car dependency.

In relation to Underground Power, Ms Cole said the rolling fund will enable longer payback periods for ratepayer contributions.

“Vincent is preparing for the once-in-a generation delivery of the most affordable underground power we’ve seen in 20 years to a third of households,” she said.

“The project will be transformational for our neighbourhoods with positive impacts on tree canopy, cooler streets, energy reliability and property values.”

The consultation period for the differential rates will last for 21 days.

On 5 July, a second Special Council Meeting will be held to review the results of the consultation and adopt the budget for the 2022-23 financial year.

The Special Council Meeting will be held at the Administration and Civic Centre, 244 Vincent Street, Leederville at 6pm.

Details including live-streaming and the public question time protocol, is available on the City’s website. Recordings will also be available on the City’s YouTube channel.

Agenda papers will be available to view on the Friday prior to the meeting.

For information, visit the Imagine Vincent website, call (08) 9273 6000 or email [email protected].

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