Cardup resident Elaine Fallon said a group of about 60 Serpentine-Jarrahdale residents attended the August council meeting to petition council’s decision of a 4.8 per cent rate increase.
“We wanted the shire to realise that we, in this community, cannot sustain these rate rises,” Mrs Fallon said.
“But we didn’t expect much, that’s for sure.”
According to the shire’s budget, 2.8 per cent of the rate increase represented the consumer price index (CPI) and two per cent would be allocated to fund road infrastructure.
In a video posted by the shire, President Rob Coales responded to questions about the budget and rates.
He said the rates increased because the shire needed to factor the rising cost of services such as maintaining parks, roads and drains.
Mrs Fallon said residents were already struggling financially.
“We have a lot of single parents, families who are struggling big time, the elderly who are supposedly getting a reduction on their rates because they’re pensioners.
“But the rates have gone that much on the rise in the last couple of years, it’s not really a reduction, is it?”
Mr Coales said he was aware of the hardships many families were facing considering the rising cost of living.
He said residents who were experiencing hardship could contact the shire’s rates team to arrange a payment plan.
Oakford resident Kim Glisenti spoke at the council meeting and asked a series of yes or no questions about the budget.
“I think it was important to highlight that the council are actually aware how much their allowances are increasing in contrast with how much our expenses are increasing,” he said.
Mr Glisenti said it was important to look at the rate increase in relation to the 37 per cent annual rise in councillors’ allowances.
“The President himself in the meeting said that this is the first increase in allowances since he’s been elected.
“But if you have a look at the register for allowances on the website, his allowances from 2024-25 and 2023-24 went up.”
According to the shire’s website, Mr Coales’ allowance in 2023-24 was $32,523.53; $47,045.28 in 2024-25; and $63,856 for 2025-26.
Mr Glisenti has been a shire resident for more than three years and said last year’s 3.4 per cent rate increase couldn’t be justified in hindsight because the shire didn’t provide adequate services.
“In our estate, we mow the verges and make them fire compliant,” he said.
“We have flooding issues in the council areas and we have to clean the drains even though they’re council drains.
“We don’t have parks, we don’t have libraries, we don’t have schools in our area.
“I understand that everyone contributes but given that we’re not receiving the initial services, it seems like we’re contributing to services that we don’t use.”
Mr Coales said he couldn’t confirm if there would be another increase next year but rates generally increased based on the CPI.
“The shire will continue advocating for state and federal government funding so ratepayers aren’t carrying the load alone,” he said.
“Especially when it comes to roads, recreation, environmental protection and other services to support our rapidly growing community.”
Mrs Fallon said she’s heard some residents were going to change their spending habits to accommodate the rates increase which could affect small businesses in the area.
“I think the next three months are going to be a real tell-tale sign,” she said.
