That is the demand 538 Australian councils have delivered in unison to the Federal Government as rising cost pressures chip away at their ability to deliver for their communities.
While the demand is not new, it is the first time all councils represented by the Australian Local Government Association have made it together.
In the Sydney crowd for the historic moment were Edward River Mayor Ashley Hall and Murray River Mayor John Harvie.
The councils are insisting that Federal Government increase indexation on Financial Assistance Grants to local government to one per cent.
These grants have been reduced from one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue in 1996 to just 0.05 per cent.
And when announcing the budget in May, the government announced a slight decrease despite consistent campaigns for an increase.
The reality, councils say, is a reduction in services or projects, and potential special rate variations which would see ratepayers facing increases well above CPI.
Cr Hall said this week’s mass lobby group reflects how dire the situation has become.
He said the funding model has not kept pace with reality, and the reductions negatively impact “long-term financial stability and our ability to plan for the future”.
“The funding gap has reached a critical point where councils’ long-term viability is at risk, and a unified national call makes it clear this is an urgent issue requiring a federal response.
“The pressure on local councils is making it difficult for them to support, maintain and develop their communities in the way that they need.
“Increased untied funding is crucial to give us the flexibility to invest in roads, infrastructure and services our community needs to grow and function effectively, instead of delaying or scaling back projects due to funding constraints.
“Without it, council may need to reduce services and reduce the funding for renewing the community assets to stay financially sustainable.
“Rural councils like Edward River are particularly vulnerable - we don't have as many revenue making opportunities as our city counterparts.”
Cr Harvie said restoring the grants to one per cent is “essential” to ensuring councils can continue delivering the infrastructure and services communities rely on.
"Councils across Australia have been advocating for this change for years, yet despite recommendations from the Federal Inquiry into Local Government Financial Sustainability, we have seen little action.
"For Murray River Council, reductions in Financial Assistance Grants have resulted in a loss of around $11 million annually, contributing to an unfunded infrastructure backlog of about $40 million.
"At the same time, councils are facing significant increases in construction, maintenance and operational costs, while being expected to deliver more services and infrastructure than ever before.
"Without sustainable funding, councils are increasingly left with difficult choices; delaying infrastructure projects, reducing services or putting upward pressure on rates. That's not a path we want to take, but it highlights the challenge local government is facing.
"This unprecedented national plea reflects the growing urgency of the issue. Additional funding would help councils address infrastructure backlogs, invest in critical community assets and reduce reliance on competitive grant programs.”
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