Bathurst ratepayers are paying hundreds of dollars less in rates each year than their counterparts in Orange and Dubbo.
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New data shows that while the average residential rates bill in Bathurst in 2013/14 was $877.99, it was $940.87 in Dubbo and $1184.42 in Orange.
The NSW Government report on the profile and performance of the local government sector also showed Bathurst average rates have been the cheapest for the last three years.
Not only did Bathurst have the cheapest rates during the last financial year, but the city also has the cheapest average domestic waste charges.
The average Bathurst ratepayer was charged $200.64, compared to $267.93 in Dubbo and $347.98 in Orange.
But Orange does lead the way on water and sewerage charges, coming in cheapest at $905.00, with Bathurst at $959.00 and Dubbo charging an average rate of $1488.00.
Bathurst businesses also had the cheapest rates of the three centres.
On average they paid $4132.09 annually in 2013/14, while Dubbo businesses paid $4900.07 and those in Orange paid $5376.67
Bathurst mayor Gary Rush said cheaper rates do not mean reduced services in the city.
“At present we’re not missing out on anything,” he said.
“We’re aiming to make Bathurst the most prosperous place in the Central West – economically, socially and culturally.”
While rates may have risen in Bathurst by 8.4 per cent over the last three years, Cr Rush said they only rose in line with Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal rate-pegging limits.
“It is very tempting for councils [to increase rates above pegging limits],” he said.
“It is often at times tempting to seek an increase in rates, but we are going to do our best to provide services without impacting our ratepayers.”
Cr Rush said council aims to have “resource generating” infrastructure and events in the city to boost council’s finances without the need to increase rates.
He said events including the V8 Supercars, 12 Hour and the newly announced second track at Mount Panorama would all add to council’s coffers.
“One of the best things you can do in council is expand the revenue base without increasing rates,” he said.
“When that revenue comes to you from outside your area it means people from outside the area are contributing to Bathurst’s economy.”
Even when comparing similar size council areas across the state, Bathurst remains one of the cheapest areas, coming in at 26th out of 38 councils when listed from most expensive to the least.
Top of the list was Kiama with average rates of $1277.87, Orange was second at $1184.42 and Dubbo ranked 17th at $940.87.
The cheapest rates in NSW for a similar size council were in Lithgow ($644.56).
