Councils Diverting Almost $500 Per Ratepayer to Cover State Costs
A new report commissioned by Local Government NSW (LGNSW) has revealed that councils across New South Wales are now shouldering an annual cost shifting burden of $1.5 billion—an increase of $140 million since the 2021/22 financial year. Prepared by independent consultants Morrison Low, Cost Shifting 2025: How State Costs Eat Council Rates outlines how State and Federal governments are increasingly transferring responsibilities to councils without providing adequate funding. Over the past decade, the cumulative cost of this shift has reached $11.3 billion. LGNSW President Mayor Cr Phyllis Miller OAM said the situation was becoming unsustainable. “Councils are at breaking point.…