Kiama Council considers parking meters and rate rises to plug $3.8m deficit
Kiama Council is considering $4-an-hour parking or a 20% rate rise to close a $3.8 million budget gap.
Kiama Council is exploring two main options to fix a $3.8 million deficit the state government has ordered it to eliminate by next year. One option is to charge visitors $4 per hour to park, which could raise more than $1 million annually.
The other is a 20 per cent rate rise, which would add $400 to the annual bill for a household paying $2,000 in rates. Council CEO Jane Frawley said they looked at every revenue source.
No decision has been made yet. They want to hear from the community so a firm direction can be set.
The rate rise would need to begin immediately to work next year. Paid parking would need approval from Transport for NSW and would follow the model used by other popular tourism destinations like Byron Bay.
- $3.8 million
- Budget shortfall
- $4 per hour
- Parking rate
- $1 million plus
- Annual parking revenue
- $400 per household
- Rate rise impact
Why it mattersIt will either increase costs for residents or introduce new fees for visitors, and signals the council's financial distress after state intervention.
AustraliaAffects NSW residents in Kiama; locals face potential rate rises or parking fees if they visit the tourism town, and signals council budget pressure across regional NSW.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 52 min ago
