Parramatta. Council to apply for rate rise

While Parramatta City Council has reported cost-cutting initiatives resulting in an $11 million improvement in its overall budget, it is considering seeking approval from the Minister of Local Government to increase ordinary rates by 5 per cent, staggered over four years. If granted the increase in the rate would be an extra $10 per year, over four years, for a typical household. Last month, the minister pegged the rate at 2.6 per cent for 2010/11.