TAMWORTH'S posties will be busy buzzing around town on Friday with the council sending out its first batch of rates notices.
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Tamworth Regional Council recently voted to increase its rates, waste and water charges by 2.7 per cent for 2019/20.
This will raise more than $73 million for the council.
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A total of 28,349 council rates notices - 129 more than last year - are expected to begin arriving in local mailboxes from Friday.
Mayor Col Murray hoped ratepayers understood they got exceptional returns for every dollar they pay in rates.
"Council will spend a total of $179 million across its general, water and sewerage funds in 2019/20 with $73 million collected in income from rates and annual charges while we deliver an $80.7 million capital works program to improve local facilities and infrastructure and continue to provide a range of services," he said
The average increase to the region's residential ratepayers for the 2019-2020 year is between $30 and $70.
The rates rise, which equates to between 58 cents and $1.35 a week, was applied after council adopted the 2.7 per cent rate cap increase as set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for all NSW councils.
Council will increase water, sewerage and trade waste service and waste management charges by 2.7 per cent. Consumption charges for water use will also increase by 2.7 per cent.
Residential and business ratepayers will pay $23 more for sewer availability, $7 more for water availability for the year and $8 more for waste collection for the year.
The mayor said no councillor is ever eager to increase rates and charges, but small annual rises are a financial reality.
"Council's finances are quite solid but we face continual pressure with cost increases and changing expectations about what the core business of council is," he said.
"Councillors and staff work hard to maximise the use of the funds we have to provide our community's needs and wants. I think on the whole we get that balance right more often than not."
Anyone who needs help to understand their rates notice, or is having difficulty paying their rates, can call the council on 1300 733 625.
Payments can be made by direct debit, using BPay, by phone or in person.
The first rate installment is due on August 31.