STIRLING is not interested in taking over neighbouring councils and their debts, City Mayor David Boothman says.
A report written by the Metropolitan Local Government Review Panel has commended the City for its performance against industry benchmarks.
Marked as a ‘Category 2’ council, Stirling exceeded all industry standards financially in the review period against 29 other Perth councils.
Neighbouring councils did not fare so well with Bayswater, Vincent, Bassendean and Cambridge listed as “vulnerable” by the panel.
With Stirling currently ‘debt-free’, Cr Boothman said the City was not interested in absorbing smaller councils on their boundaries like the City of Vincent.
“Why would we want to absorb that sort of level of debt or liability for our ratepayers to then have to foot the bill?” Cr Boothman asked.
“To do so may jeopardise the viability of several City projects that our ratepayers have been counting on.”
He said the City was happy to remain at its current size.