General News
19 June, 2023
Rates to rise by nearly 6 per cent
CAIRNS Regional Council ratepayers have been slugged with a 5.99 per cent rate increase or about $3.16 a week in difficult circumstances of inflationary pressures, labour skill shortages and supply chain restrictions.
It is nearly double that of last year (3.1 per cent) and previous increases of about 1.5-1.7 per cent.
However, Mayor Bob Manning said the council was determined to keep the increase below the consumer price index (CPI), currently 7.4 per cent.
The budget was passed today 8-2 with Cr Amy Eden and Rob Pyne voting against.
The $422.5m budget includes $164.8m in capital works, $82.5m on water and wastewater infrastructure and $51m to service and maintain community assets.
The special budget meeting was disrupted at 9.50am when Cr Manning adjourned the meeting after he stopped Cr Eden from speaking out about the rate increase when councillors were permitted to discuss it only in the context of their individual divisions. Budget debate was allowed later in the meeting.
This sparked an outcry from the public gallery who yelled: “Let her speak”, and from mayoral candidate John Kelly who was early warned about disrupting the meeting.
Mr Kelly was later removed from the council chambers by a security guard. The meeting resumed at 10am.
Cr Manning said he “certainly understand the cost-of-living pressures faced in the current environment”.
“This is the most challenging budget in my time at council, which responds to some unique and challenging economic conditions,” he said.
“In considering this year’s budget, we have been mindful of the rising cost of
delivering essential services.
“Council continues to face the same inflationary challenges as everyone else,
including cost pressures, supply chain issues and skilled labour shortages.
“For example, we have registered a 30 per cent increase in the cost associated with the construction of concrete paths and procurement of stormwater pipes and other associated prefabricated concrete products; price rises of over 40 per cent for top soils and sands and electricity price rises close to 20 per cent.
“We also needed to budget for cost increases in bitumen works of 15 per cent, a 20 per cent cost escalation in fuel and an 8 per cent rise for waste collection services.
“It has been a difficult process to achieve the outcome we are here to vote on today. Many hours were spent deliberating, debating and formulating this budget, and I thank the councillors who did actively engage in this process, your input has been invaluable.
“Maintaining service standards is a high priority.
“We have looked carefully at our capital works program and considered which
projects were absolutely necessary, those that could be deferred, where reduced
scope was needed and made the most of funding opportunities to maximise
outcomes.”
Full reports in Cairns Local News on Friday.
