More than 80 per cent of Moorabool residents who took part in a recent workshop supported the current council rating structure, but the matter proved more divisive for Moorabool councillors.
At this month’s council meeting, councillors debated the possible introduction of a $200 municipal charge to be paid by all ratepayers.
The push for a ‘‘flat tax’’, designed to lessen the rates burden on large landholders, was defeated by a 4-3 vote.
Urging his fellow councillors to support the new charge, mayor Paul Tatchell said the move would cement the importance of agriculture in the shire.
“It’s the price of an extra cup of coffee a fortnight, to keep the reason why people want to live here,” he said.
“We’re down to 412 farm enterprises in Moorabool. We can keep making it difficult for our farmers, but then we’ll have none.”
Cr John Spain said he didn’t believe the charge was needed. “The outcome will be that people struggling to pay their rates now will have increasing struggles so I can’t support a flat tax,” he said.
Councillors Pat Toohey and Tom Sullivan supported the introduction of a municipal charge, with Cr Toohey saying it recognised the $196 it cost to process every rates notice.
“I can’t support going on with the ‘same old’,’’ he said. ‘‘We have a system where people aren’t even covering the cost of their own rate- paying.”
Cr David Edwards disagreed. “Industrial land and farming will benefit, but if we go down this road, people with low-value properties pay more and those with high-value properties pay less,” he said.
“No one begrudges the farmers, but there’s better ways to go about it.”
The proposed 2014-15 budget will be presented to councillors on May 21.
