Hugh Schuitemaker, Murray Pioneer

Renmark Paringa elected members will consider new options in an effort to lower council’s proposed 2025/26 rate rise.

Renmark Paringa councillors at last week’s general meeting passed a motion to lay the 2025/26 Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget – including a proposed 11.25 per cent rate rise – on the table.

A Renmark Paringa Council statement regarding the matter advised “council administration will present options to elected members as per the recommendation at a meeting in the near future”.

“The selected option will then be utilised to update and endorse the Annual Business Plan and Budget, Long Term Financial Plan and Infrastructure and Asset Management Plan,” the statement read.

“The date of that special meeting will be announced as soon as possible.”

The council statement advised a range of financial strategies were implemented in an attempt to avoid or minimise general rate increases, including:

• Capital program optimisation – Deferred $5.7m in capital spending to future years.
• Pursuing grants – Secured funding through programs like the LGA Financial Sustainability Pilot.
• Asset and land rationalisation – Surveyed community use of council-owned buildings and identified surplus properties for potential disposal.
• Review of Fees and Charges – Conducted a comprehensive review and benchmarking to inform the Annual Business Plan.
• Cost reduction in materials and contracts – Achieved a 6 per cent budget reduction, including a temporary freeze on grants and sponsorships.
• Renewable energy initiatives – Continued efforts to reduce energy use and related costs.
• Staffing and contracted services review – Assessed opportunities for service consolidation and efficiency through automation.
• Discretional rate rebates review – Planned a review of all non-mandatory rate rebates.
• Debt reallocation – Explored shifting debt to long-term financing to improve sustainability.
• Service standards review – Identified potential savings by adjusting current service levels.
• Internal process optimisation – Reviewed ICT strategy and created a short-term role to support project delivery.
• Events review – Analysed community events and proposed a scaled-back events and sponsorship program.

The council statement advised “these efforts were undertaken before considering any increase to general rates, which remained a last resort”.

Further information regarding the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget is available by visiting the council website (www.engagement.renmarkparinga.sa.gov.au/renmark-paringa-council-annual-plans-202526).

This article appeared in Murray Pioneer, 30 July 2025.