Dubbo mayor Cr Mathew Dickerson says state government claims rates won't rise in a newly-merged Dubbo and Wellington council is political trickery.
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"There is no proof or substance in the messaging by state government that there will be downward pressure on rates. It's no coincidence they are saying there won't be forced redundancies for three years and no changes in rates for four years. Because if these happened before the election it would be a political disaster for them (the state government)," he said.
"They don't want to make unpleasant changes before the state election."
In the last round of council amalgamations 76.9 per cent of the councils applied for Special Rate Variations above rate-pegging with the average increase requested over 30 per cent.
"When the state government says it will put downward pressure on rates; improve scale and capacity and make these councils better, the past history shows the complete opposite," Cr Dickerson said.
The group representing councils in NSW has told an IPART (Independent Regulatory Tribunal hearing) proposed freezes on council rates for merged councils would have a dramatic impact on the ability of councils to to maintain services and renew infrastructure.'
"And what happens after 2019 when those communities are going to do a catch up after four years," Keith Rhoades, the president of the Local Government and mayor of Coffs Harbour, said.
"It is going to really put a damper and a constraint on being able to move forward with major projects."
IPart will present a report to the Local Government in June over the future of council rate variations and the rate freeze would require legislation.
It also looks at the possibility of either a slow or fast transition to new rate settings for a merged council. It also rules out a special rate variation to raise more money for councils prior to an amalgamation.
It says this special income would be included in the 'rate freeze' calculation.
Submissions on IPART's issues paper are due by May 13.
In another development, Cabonne and Oberon Councils will go to the land and environment court on May 24 and 25 to stop mergers.
