The first Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) budget to bring Redcliffe, Pine Rivers and Caboolture under a single rating system, has been handed down.
All but three Councillors (Cr Chris Whiting, Cr David Dwyer and Cr Adrian Raedel) voted in favour of the 2010/2011 budget.
This budget delivers a $5.5 million deficit and a change in debt policy. All of Council’s existing debt ($334 million) as at the 30th of June, 2010 will be restructured to pay the interest component only. This means the borrowed amount will never be paid back at a cost to future generations.
While the income to MBRC from general rates, paid by the ratepayer, and utility charges has been reduced, the budget has been bolstered by a dividend of about $55.4 million from the new water entity Unity Water. This dividend is payable yearly and has contributed to the retail water increases.
One of many groups of ratepayers facing rate hikes are pensioners. Cr Chris Whiting said that a further 25% on top of the new rating assessment would apply to every relocatable home park. They are now regarded as commercial properties.
“Affordable housing is one of the most important issues in our fast growing region,” Cr Chris Whiting said.
The Moreton Bay Ratepayers Action Group have also shown concern. The group chairman Dennis Austen said in his opinion some areas had been hit hard.
Cr Adrian Raedel tabled a letter in Council to explain his reasons for voting against the rates charges.
“While I support any reduction possible in rates, I can’t see this being fair at the expense of other ratepayers,” Cr Adrian Raedel said.
“In this budget, landlords will experience a large increase in rates to which will be passed directly onto tenants. This will detrimentally affect both residential and commercial tenants.
“It has recently been widely reported that residential tenants are barely keeping their heads above water. Why should they experience further anguish when two properties side by side, identical in value and using the same Council services, have a different rate outcome?
“In the case of small business (Commercial tenants) the expected rate rises will be an additional burden in this extremely hard environment. These local businesses make up the second largest employer in the region.
“The cross subsidy of ratepayers also affects the Rural Agricultural sector of our region. These ratepayers being hit so hard at a time like this is unacceptable.
“I strongly believe we can come up with a fairer system which doesn’t diminish the required operational revenue.
“In closing, I urge my fellow Councillors to take into consideration that ratepayers across the whole region, are expected to experience increases in water charges, electricity, fuel, tolls and other day to day living expenses.”
Mayor, Allan Sutherland has highlighted the $182 million works program in the budget.
“During 2010/2011 this council’s savings per annum since amalgamation will be $25million,” he said.
He said works projects include:
· $25 million Caboolture library, learning centre and art gallery complex.
· $58 million on new roads, drains and transport infrastructure.
· $25 million to improve parks, sport precincts and other recreational areas around the region.
