THE Shire of York has adopted its 2026/27 budget, determining a 6.6 per cent increase in rates for gross rental value (GRV) properties.

Unimproved value (UV) properties will also see higher rates due to increased property valuations, despite no change to the rate percentage applied to them.

The budget expects rate revenue to increase from $8.9 million to $9.6m, which will account for 55 per cent of the shire’s total revenue.

The increase is higher than the City of Swan’s 4.95 per cent increase and the Shire of Mundaring’s 3.9 per cent increase.

Major projects listed in the budget include the capital roads program ($2.7m), which will provide improvements to Quellington Road, Greenhill Road and Macartney Street.

Around $1m is allocated for the purchase of large, long-term machinery such as 11t and 7t trucks.

The design, business case and grant preparation of the aquatic facility will incur $650,000 with a further $314,635 set aside for future construction.

Waugal Rising phase 2 has been allocated $467,899 as part of heritage trail infrastructure and the CBD will also receive an upgrade of $425,000.

During the meeting, concerns over rising rates amid cost-of-living pressures were raised by several residents.

Shire of York president Chris Gibbs read a resident’s feedback given to council.

“A significant increase in council rates will place increased strain on families, small business, growers and pastoralists and potentially have a negative impact on economic growth,” he read.

“This at a time when households especially pensioners, families and small businesses are needing to tighten their budgets, it seems the Council should at this time also be making some hard decisions and reviewing spending and project priorities, identifying savings and efficiencies and delivering services and projects within the means of a sustainable budget for the ratepayers and residents.”

Cr Gibbs acknowledged these concerns but said it was necessary to deliver a budget that could sustain the shire and not compromise its future.

“It is not an extravagant budget. It is not a budget that has huge surpluses or massive wish lists of things that we would like to happen. It is a budget that allows us to keep up,” he said.

The finance officer’s recommendation said rate revenue needed to increase due to the impact of rising prices for goods and services on the shire’s expenditure.

The minimum rate remains unchanged at $1,395.

Residents can pay in full for a 1.5 per cent discount or through instalments, which will incur an $11 administration fee for each instalment after the first and a 5.5 per cent interest on outstanding instalment balances.