Tamworth Council Announces 153% rate rise after realising manifestation isn’t a funding strategy

In what experts are calling “a bold new approach to local government finance,” Tamworth Council has asked IPART for permission to jack up local rates by 153%, after realising that all the projects they’d promised the community actually need to be paid for.

The budget black hole reportedly comes from years of council announcing million-dollar projects — parks, roads, animal shelters, shiny CBD upgrades — without having secured a single cent of funding from the state or federal governments.

“We were under the impression that just saying we’d apply for grants was enough,” said one council insider. “Turns out, apparently, you’ve actually got to fill out the forms and, like, get approved and stuff.”

Locals say they’re still reeling from the revelation that the council’s “funding strategy” was mostly based on vibes, optimism, and the assumption that someone in Canberra or Macquarie Street would eventually swoop in with a novelty cheque.

“I’ve seen kids run a more realistic lemonade stand,” said one resident. “At least they know you have to buy lemons before you promise free refills.”

Council documents reveal that rather than delaying or scaling back projects, the elected body decided to commit to everything at once — before even checking if funding existed — leading to the current plea for a 53% rate rise over several years.

A spokesperson defended the move, saying it was all part of a long-term plan to “deliver the infrastructure Tamworth deserves,” adding that the community would surely understand once they saw the “vision.”

“We had to move quickly,” the spokesperson said. “There was a photo op window and a ribbon-cutting schedule to consider. You can’t let grant paperwork get in the way of progress.”

The request to IPART has been described as a “financial Hail Mary,” as council scrambles to cover commitments that were, until recently, funded entirely by optimism and Canva presentations.

Local ratepayers, meanwhile, are bracing for impact.

“I’m just waiting for them to start a GoFundMe,” said another resident. “At this point, it’s the only funding model they haven’t tried.”

When asked whether council would change its approach in the future, a spokesperson said lessons had been learned, namely that “applications” and “approvals” are two separate steps.

“We’re now aware grants don’t magically appear once you say the word ‘funding’ three times in a meeting,” they confirmed.

IPART is expected to review the proposal later this year, after which council will either get the green light to raise rates or be forced to start handing around a Bunnings sausage sizzle tin to keep the lights on.

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