TAMWORTH residents feeling the financial pinch of rising rates can take some solace from the fact they pay less than many of the state’s similar-sized councils.
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New figures from the Office of Local Government (OLG) show that in 2012-13, average residential rates in the Tamworth Regional Council area were $849.
In comparison, Albury residents were slugged an average of $1091, and Orange ratepayers were hit with $1113, with the median across the 11 councils $895.
The statistics also indicate Tamworth’s farmers get a better deal than their counterparts, paying $1690 compared to the group average of $2092.
But the biggest winners appear to be local business owners, who pay an average of $2704 a year in rates to the council.
In contrast, Albury businesses are smacked with $5226, Orange entrepreneurs $5132 and Wagga $4986, while the across-the-board average is $3837.
However, where locals get stung is on the residential annual charges component of their bills, with Tamworth Regional Council charging well above group average.
Tamworth ratepayers’ total residential bill comes to an average of $2409, compared to the council-wide average of $2299, while Bathurst homeowners pay only $1981.
Tamworth deputy mayor Russell Webb told a recent council meeting that the OLG report painted the council in a “fairly good picture”.
“Whilst we don’t always make decisions (our critics) see as right decisions, in the overall scheme of things we seem to be making the right decisions that are taking our city forward and making it a growing city, a prosperous city and a city that will provide jobs into the future,” he said.
