Lithgow City Council will protest a 21 per cent increase in the annual Emergency Services levy, which will see the council billed $108,000 more than last year.
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Councillors criticised the State Government, which collects the levy to support emergency services in NSW, for failing to be transparent about the increase prior to the election.
Cr Steve Ring said, while the percentage hasn't increased, changes to workers' compensation meant the total cost had risen.
"The government has handled it fairly poorly," he said.
"I support the intents of this legislation, and what they're trying to achieve, but we can't be 'Fit For the Future' and be hit with massive bills as well [without notification]. We don't have the budget for it."
Cr Joe Smith said it was unacceptable that this community, along with every other one in NSW, had been "lumped" with this bill.
"I'm amused - no, I'm not amused, I'm annoyed - that this has come out after the election," he said.
The council had budgeted for a 2.5 increase on last year's levy, which stood at $517,040.
Instead, according to documents presented at the May 7 meeting, ratepayers have been hit with a bill of $625,636 - an increase of more than $100,000, leaving a shortfall of $72,000.
Chief financial and information officer Ross Gurney stated, as council's operational plan was already on public exhibition, "council has no option except to remove an operational project from the 2019-2020 budget".
As a result, the Hassans Walls Reserve mine subsidence audit project will not go ahead.
Cr Wayne McAndrew said the State Government, at the very least, should postpone the increase to allow local governments to plan for the additional "cost-shifting".
Cr Cassandra Coleman said it was an absolute disgrace and all councils needed to "push back" on the issue.
Council will write to State Member Paul Toole and the Minister for Local Government asking the state to cover the additional cost or to defer the cost increase to a future year.
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Kirsty Horton
A journalist with 15 years of experience, Kirsty Horton has been the editor of the Lithgow Mercury newspaper and a journalist for mastheads including the Great Lakes Advocate, Nambucca Guardian News and Moree Champion. She is now a member of ACM's features and special publications team.
A journalist with 15 years of experience, Kirsty Horton has been the editor of the Lithgow Mercury newspaper and a journalist for mastheads including the Great Lakes Advocate, Nambucca Guardian News and Moree Champion. She is now a member of ACM's features and special publications team.
