4 minute read
BUDGET SUMMARY
BUDGET AT A GLANCE
$54.9m CAPITAL BUDGET
Advertisement
$5.8 million COUNCIL PROPERTIES FLEET, PLANT & WORKSHOPS $16.3 million ROADS & DRAINAGE
$4.1 million WASTEWATER
$7.3 million WATER
$708,000 SERVICES & SUPPORT
$5.2 million WASTE MANAGEMENT
CR SIMON WEST
DIVISION 4 MORANBAH
P E
0429 728 216 simon.west@isaac.qld.gov.au
FREEZE ON RATES AND CHARGES FOR FAMILIES
Isaac Regional Council has frozen rates and charges for residential, agricultural and small business ratepayers for the next 12 months. The 2020-21 Budget – adopted unanimously by Councillors on 29 July – holds the total amount of rates and charges collected from most domestic ratepayers at the same level as last year. The only exception is a small increase in charges for high-volume water users and the effects of Council’s water infrastructure price path. Mayor Anne Baker said the annual budget had been framed in extraordinary times. “COVID-19 has impacted every family in Isaac,” Mayor Baker said. “This is a time for innovative, responsive and compassionate leadership. Those qualities are reflected in this budget. “All Councillors agreed that the total amount collected for Council use from rates and levies from our families, farmers and small business ratepayers should basically be frozen.” Mayor Baker said that, for domestic ratepayers, there would be zero per cent increase in general rates. Waste utility charges and sewer utility charges also had not been increased from last year. “There also will be zero increase in total revenue to Council from water infrastructure charges but charges in 2020-21 will continue the plan to align pricing in all localities, so some localities will see a decrease in the water infrastructure charges while other localities will see an increase,” she said. “As I said, the net result will be no increase in total revenue collected by Council for water infrastructure. “Water consumption charges have been amended for higher-usage properties, in keeping with the principle of user-pays. Water charges for the first and second tiers have been held at 2019-20 levels, while tier three has increased.” Mayor Baker said there would be a general rates increase for large businesses in the Isaac region, such as mining enterprises. “For big business, the rates rise will be 2.5 per cent, close to previously foreshadowed rates increases and only marginally above the national CPI for March 2020 of 2.2 per cent,” Mayor Baker said.
This financial year we will see full underground recycled irrigation be installed at Ted Rolfe Oval for $56,000 to improve and maintain green space for residents and $65,000 for Greg Cruickshank Aquatic Centre refurbishments. Another $40,000 will be spent on a caravan dump point in Moranbah to promote road-based tourism in our region. Moranbah Animal Management Centre, part of our wonderful Paws-itive Blueprint for Responsible Dog Ownership, will receive a $115,000 upgrade to improve disease control, security and increase capacity.
BUDGET AT A GLANCE
0%
FREEZE ON RATES AND CHARGES FOR FAMILIES
“Those same businesses that have large residential property portfolios will, however, benefit substantially from the zero per cent increase for those properties.” Mayor Baker said under its longterm financial forecast, Council had committed to keeping increases to general rates for domestic ratepayers at no more than 2 per cent a year. “The bottom line is that Council has worked hard to achieve a budget that is sustainable and responsible, taking into account current economic conditions, including the current COVID-19 pandemic and recession. “Council has constrained increases in total rates revenue to 2 per cent overall, in line with previous adopted longterm financial forecasts, while also considering sectors of the economy which have been more impacted than others. “Finally, Council has ensured that budgeting decisions have not impacted the ongoing provision of services or the long-term sustainability of Council. Mayor Baker said the 2020-21 capital works program – seen as important to maintain infrastructure and economic activity – was budgeted to deliver a total of $54.9 million in works and services across the Isaac region. This comprised: • $28.3 million for roads and drainage; • $5.9 million for water; • $4.1 million for wastewater; • $5.2 million for waste management; • $5.8 million for Council properties, plant, fleet and workshops; • $708,000 for services and support; • $1.7 million for parks and recreation; and • $3.2 million for community facilities. “The 2020-21 Budget continues Council’s commitment to sustainable and prudent financial management,” Mayor Baker said. “Council’s fiscal position is independently assessed by the Queensland Audit Office and the Queensland Treasury Corporation, and we continue to achieve sound financial sustainability.” For more information visit www.isaac. qld.gov.au/budget, phone 1300 ISAACS (1300 472 227) or visit your local Council office.
increase GENERAL RATES
$12 million DISASTER RECOVERY & MANAGEMENT
$1.7 million PARKS & RECREATION
$3.2 million COMMUNITY FACILITIES
SOURCES OF REVENUE
78% 6% 6% 5% 3% NET RATES & UTILITY CHARGES OPERATING GRANTS, SUBSIDIES & CONTRIBUTIONS OTHER RECURRENT REVENUE SALE OF CONTRACT & RECOVERABLE WORKS FEES & CHARGES
1%
RENTAL INCOME
1%
INTEREST EARNED
CR KELLY VEA VEA
DEPUTY MAYOR DIVISION 5 MORANBAH
M 0437 018 184 E kelly.veavea@isaac.qld.gov.au Over $4.2 million will be spent on improving our stormwater management and rehabilitating stage 1 of Moranbah’s landfill to improve compliance and ensure waste is managed responsibly thanks to Council’s 2020-21 Budget. About $515,000 will be invested in Division 3, 4 and 5 to improve local roads thanks to our bitumen surfacing renewal program. And from a practical sense, an investment of $700,000 for sewerage pump stations and $50,000 into our urban stormwater programs which will be rolled out to replace, renew and refurbish existing local infrastructure. In closing, #putyourlampsout for the Driveways at Dusk special event on 6 November. More details on the Moranbah Miners’ Memorial Facebook page.
