City freezes rates and provides concessions

The City of Armadale acknowledges its role in the whole of government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  To minimise the economic and social impacts on our community, the City of Armadale is freezing rate revenue for the 2020/2021 budget, meaning no rate payer will pay more than last year.

According to Mayor Ruth Butterfield, as a result of Council action, 20,879 residents will have a decrease, and 16,311 residents that would otherwise have had an increase will be granted a concession to keep their rates the same as last year.

“The City is able to pay for the rate freeze concession from savings made through cuts to the 2019/2020 budget,” said Mayor Butterfield.

“We know that some members of the community are feeling anxious or uncertain about their financial security in the months ahead and we are acutely aware of the impact on ratepayers, when making budgeting decisions. This is why Council has committed to ensuring no ratepayer will pay more than last year and why a financial hardship policy has been adopted,” she said.

Rates fund critical community infrastructure and allow us to deliver the services and programs (such as libraries, recreation and aquatic centres) that make the City of Armadale a great place to live. The City will continue to deliver these services and key projects, and will actually be bringing forward millions of dollars’ worth of capital projects to support economic recovery.

Council’s ‘Rates Assistance and Financial Hardship Policy’ – is designed to ease the burden on ratepayers who are experiencing financial distress, during and after, this challenging time.

Through many years of strong financial management the City has ensured it has the reserves and borrowing capacity to bring forward capital works to kick start the economy.  This decision responds to the unprecedented circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 crisis and targets response and recovery actions designed to assist the community and businesses through the challenging times ahead.