Like it or not, the passing of a motion in the NSW Upper House earlier this month by shadow Minister for Local Government Peter Primrose demonstrated how the NSW Opposition would preserve Armidale Regional Council's budget surplus.
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The motion supported loud calls by NSW local government to have State Government fund the first year of extra costs surrounding new Emergency Services Levy, legislated in November last year to address a shortfall in workers' compensation that made it easier for firefighters, diagnosed with one of 12 specific work-related cancers, to access workers compensation entitlements.
I think it is a matter for individual councils to determine whether they will pay the increases or not ...
- Adam Marshall
The increase came without warning and at a time when most councils were in the process of finalising their 2019/20 budgets.
"The decision of the NSW Liberal-Nationals Government to impose this increase in such an unexpected and sneaky manner is particularly reprehensible in the case of already struggling, cash-strapped councils in drought-ravaged communities," Mr Primrose told the Upper House.
"It just adds to the burden of the $820 million that the Government is cost shifting every year onto local councils."
Armidale Regional Council's levy increased by 22 per cent, or about $150,000, taking it up to $862,190 and placing council's expected surplus small surplus at risk.
Council CEO Susan Law said her budget is up for adoption at the next council meeting.
"If the council adopts the budget that has gone out for public exhibition, then it doesn't include the additional Emergency Services Levy," she said.
"It means, at the first quarterly review of the budget, I would have to go back to council making modifications to incorporate the additional $150,000."
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Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said he thought it would be a matter for individual councils to determine whether they will pay the increases or not.
"I've spoken to all the councils in my Electorate and that will be a matter for all councils, if the wish to pay for the increase. It may well be that councils will say they want to pay the levy, but not the full increase.
"It may very well be that councils will pay the levy plus CPI, which was budgeted for as the standard way of doing things ... so some councils may just choose to say that's all they are going to pay."