QUEANBEYAN ratepayers could be hit with an almost 30 per cent rate increase as the struggling council looks for ways to stay financially viable.

One of the options being considered to keep Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) financially afloat, is raising rates by 28 per cent.

It comes on the back of councillors voting to bump up their pay packets by 22 per cent, earlier this year.

QPRC Mayor Kenrick Winchester said the merger, and costs associated with responding to the pandemic and natural disasters, have put the council in this position financially.

“When the NSW Government merged the two councils, neither were in a financially sustainable position,” he said.

“The legislation stopped us from increasing our income or making some decisions to reduce expenses, like consolidating administration offices or staff.’

“The merged Council was not permitted to raise rates for four years.

“We don’t want to reduce staff, we don’t want to cut services, we don’t want to close pools or reduce our maintenance budgets, but that’s the reality unless we do something about the income we receive.”

Councillors will consider three rate rise scenarios at a meeting next week including:

*Increasing rates by 12 per cent each year for three years
*Increasing rates by 18 per cent each year for three years
*Increasing rates by 28 per cent in the first year, 25 per cent in the second year and 23 per cent in the third year

Ratepayers will be able to make comments on the rate scenarios until the end of January.

Following community feedback, council will determine an application to IPART about a rate variation in February.