By Chris Oldfield: CR Crash Downward has queried the impact of a 5 per cent rate rise on the district’s farmers already paying thousands of dollars each week to feed their livestock. Naracoorte Lucindale Council relies on the district’s farming families to fund around 60 per cent of its proposed $12.726m rate revenue. An average 5 per cent rate rise is projected by the council’s administration as part of a draft 2025-26 budget and business plan. All up, the budget seeks a total income of $22.676 million. In addition to rate revenue, it has budgeted for other income:  * Service charges – $2.248m. * Statutory charges – $263,000. * User charges -$2.52m. * Grants, subsidies and contributions – $4.301m. * Investment income – $359,000. * Reimbursements – $154,000. * “Other income” – $106,000. The council’s proposed capital works program prepared by its administration includes significant projects in and around Naracoorte. […]