Media Release - 2017/2018 Budget at a Glance

• 1.5% General Rate increase.

• Water and Sewerage Utility Charges will increase as follows:
  • Water Utility Base Charge: 2% ($7.30 a year)
  • Average Domestic Water Consumption Charge: 2%
  • Sewerage Utility Charge: 2% ($14.70 a year)
  • Cleansing Charge: 2% ($4.70 a year)
  • Waste Management Levy: 2% ($3.00 a year).
• Rate Notices will continue to be sent out twice a year. Each Rate Notice will be for half the annual Rate cost. 
• The first Rate Notice will be sent out in July with payment due by 30 September 2017.
• From 1 January 2018, Water Consumption Notices will be combined with Rate Notices
• Ratepayers can continue to prepay their Rates if that is their preference.
• A Pensioner Concession granted by Council is 20% to a maximum of $200 and State Government Pensioner Subsidy also grant 20% to a maximum of $200. Concession will apply to eligible ratepayers and will be applied equally to both Rate Notices issued during 2017/2018.
• Total Budgeted Expenditure (excluding Depreciation) is $37.8m. This will be increased by various Capital Budget carry overs from 2016/2017.  Note that Materials and Services Budget has reduced by over $600,000 (7% decrease).
• Overall, the Total Operating Expenditure Budget (excluding Depreciation) has decreased from $23.6m to $23.3m even though certain costs, such as electricity, are expected to increase significantly.
• Major continued commitment to Economic Development, with specific strategic initiatives such as:

• Development of holistic Economic Marketing Strategy
• Hinchinbrook Way website enhancement
• Development of Vital Places Strategy
• The facilitation of business development initiatives

• $14.5m will be spent on Capital Works and Capital Projects throughout the Shire:

• $6m of this will be funded from grants that Council will use to help promote local economic stimulus
• $2m of this amount will be funded by cash reserves to reinvigorate the local economy.

Key Projects

• $4.7m on Roads, Reseal and Resheeting, Bridges and Drainage Projects
• $1.6m on Water infrastructure.
• $0.7m on Sewerage infrastructure.
• $1.5m on Plant and Fleet.
• $2.8m on Works For Queensland projects
• $150,000 CBD development work.
• $50,000 for improvements to the Visitor Information Centre.
• $25,000 on repairs and renovations to the Rotary Park Water Fountain
• $20,000 on age friendly street and park furniture
• $20,000 to enhance Business Disaster Recovery facilities

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