Council
13 October, 2026
IPART sets rate peg for 2027/28
The NSW pricing regulator has set the 2027/28 rate peg for each of the state’s 128 councils, with core rate pegs ranging from 3.7 per cent to 5.4 per cent.
The NSW pricing regulator has set the 2027/28 rate peg for each of the state’s 128 councils, with core rate pegs ranging from 3.7 per cent to 5.4 per cent.
The core rate peg for Goulburn-Mulwaree, Wingecarribee and Wollondilly has been set at 3.7 per cent.
The core rate peg for Upper Lachlan has been set at 4.1 per cent and for Yass Valley 3.9 per cent.
However, the final rate peg for Upper Lachlan and Wollondilly will be slightly higher thanks to population growth with the final rate peg for Upper Lachlan set at 4.6 per cent and for Wollondilly 5.7 per cent.
At least two of the region’s councils are expected to apply for a special variation (SV) to increase rates above the rate pegging limit.
Yass Valley Council will hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, October 14 to decide whether or not to start engaging with the community over its financial position and the possibility of it applying for an SV.
Wingecarribee Shire Council will discuss a possible SV application at its meeting this month (October) after having already consulted with the community.
Both councils are looking at the possibility of significant increases – Yass Valley a cumulative increase of 76.55 per cent over four years from 2027/28 and Wingecarribee Shire a cumulative increase of 34.4 per cent over three years from 2027/28.
If they apply for an SV – as is expected given both councils have reported a significant funding gap – IPART will conduct its own community engagement process before making a decision.
Applications need to be lodged before February next year (2027).
IPART chair Anthony Wing said the rate peg didn’t determine how much rates for an individual household or business will increase.
Rather, it is the maximum percentage by which a council can increase its general income, which is the money each council raises from rates
“It is now up to each council to decide whether to increase rates, which categories of rates will rise and what support to provide to people in need of financial assistance,” Mr King said,
Mr Wing said general income makes up about one-third of the income NSW councils receive, on average, with the rest coming from grants, fees, developer contributions and other charges.
However, some councils are facing additional pressure because of proposed changes to the way Commonwealth Financial Assistance Grants are distributed.
The changes being proposed by the NSW Local Government Grants Commission are designed to help small rural and regional councils address massive gaps in infrastructure funding.
While some councils will obviously benefit from the proposed changes, Wingecarribee Shire Council says it could lose as much as $2.7 million a year.
--------------
Subscribe to The Southern Wire Newsletter for free at the link below.
https://subscribe-forms.beehiiv.com/1986abc6-c89e-4781-9db2-cf35c9dd71e4
If you value independent local journalism across the Highlands, Tablelands and Wollondilly, please click the link below to support us to ensure we remain paywall free.
Read More: Southern Highlands, Southern Tablelands, Wollondilly, Yass