Council seeking support for ending Government cost shifting
Published on 19 April 2024
Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, is asking the community to support calls to the Federal and State Governments to stop pushing costs for infrastructure, services and regulatory functions, to councils.
Mayor Lyon said a recent report commissioned by Local Government NSW (LGNSW) showed that the cost-shifting burden from State to the Local Government sector is now valued at $1.36 billion per year, up 78 per cent in just over five years.
“This cannot continue,” Mayor Lyon said.
“Time and again the State and Federal Governments push a wide range of things that they funded, over to councils and we have no option but to pick up the cost burden,” Mayor Lyon said.
“Examples of this are transferring roads from state control to local and the reduction in funding for library services.
“The NSW Government imposes a rate peg on councils which does not even meet the CPI, so our ability to raise revenue is extremely limited.
“Ultimately our ratepayers and our community end up wearing the cost because when we incur increased financial burdens our communities get less or go without.
“They go without better roads, parks and community services that councils provide.
“There are two inquiries being held at state and federal levels in relation to local government and things like cost shifting and it would be terrific if people in the community made submissions to support us,” Mayor Lyon said.
Members of the public can make submissions to following inquiries:
For media enquiries contact Michael Lyon, Byron Shire Mayor, on 0435 646 365.