Campbelltown Council will raise almost $121 million from rates this financial year.
In late June, the council voted to adopt the permissible rate variation for 2025-26, which is 5.5 percent.
However, rates paid by individual households or businesses will not necessarily increase in line with the 5.5 percent rate peg limit.
The percentage increase applies to the total general rate income, not individual ratepayer’s assessments.
The total rates revenue includes just under $8.5 million from the infrastructure special rate.
Rates notices, which went out last week, show the levy amount each ratepayer will pay this financial year.
For example, the average property in Kentlyn will pay around $300 a year.
Jai Rowell, Campbelltown City Council executive general manager of city planning and corporate services, says the infrastructure special rate was introduced in the 2014–15 financial year to directly support the renewal and maintenance of Campbelltown’s $3 billion infrastructure and asset portfolio – which includes 282,000 individual assets.
“At the time, council faced a $33.7 million infrastructure backlog,’’ Mr Rowell said.
“While this funding has helped address the original backlog, ongoing challenges such as ageing assets, the impact of natural disasters, inflation and rising material costs, as well as the dedication or construction of new assets continue to place pressure on council’s ability to maintain infrastructure to the standard our community expects.
“The infrastructure special rate forms a permanent part of council’s rating base, with $8.48 million in revenue forecast for 2025–26.
“This funding contributes to a broader $15.6 million investment in asset renewal and maintenance across the city.
“Any reduction or redirection of these funds would significantly impact council’s ability to manage the renewal and maintenance of our extensive infrastructure assets into the future,’’ Mr Rowell said.