As a growth area, why do we need to increase general rates for existing ratepayers?

The increase in this Council’s expenditure from one year to another cannot simply be reduced to a single index such as CPI not only because of the large range of services and programs provided by Council, but also because the number and levels of service provided by Council is changing for example the footpath program, Summit Sport and Recreation Park and the Aquatic Facility.
While Mount Barker is a growth council, and this growth results in more rates income being generated, the additional properties which are constructed (and the people that live in the new houses) also increase the need and expenditure related to Infrastructure, services and programs which support these properties and residents.