Media Release - Budget at a Glance

2018/2019 Budget at a Glance

• Overall revenue increase of 1.26% through rates and utilities charges being a 1% General Rate increase and 1.89% increase in water, sewerage, and waste utility charges and levies.
• General Rate increase of 1% is on average over all properties. The Valuer-General reassessed property values for the Shire in 2018 resulting in a broad range of increases and decreases. Due to the revaluations individual rate assessments may show a change of higher or lower than 1%.
• Water and Sewerage Utility Charge increases are as follows:
  • Water Utility Base Charge: $7 per year
  • Average Domestic Water Consumption Charge: 1.89%
  • Sewerage Utility Charge: $2.10 per unit per year
  • Cleansing Charge: $4.50 per year
  • Waste Management Levy: $2.90 per year
• Half yearly Rates Notices will be sent out in July with payment due by 30 September 2018
• Water Consumption Notices will be combined with Rate Notices
• Pensioner subsidies and Rate concessions include a Council Pensioner concession of 20%, up to $200, and a State Government Pensioner concession of 20%, up to $200. Rate concessions for not for profit organisations are available, information regarding this is available on Council’s website, Rates, Fees and Charges
• Total Budgeted Expenditure, excluding depreciation, is $37.3m. This will be increased by various Capital Budget carry overs from 2017/2018.  Council continues to budget without long term borrowings.
• Cash balances remain sound.
• Operating surplus sustainability ratio is improved compared to the 2017/2018 Budget.
• Commitment to Economic Development, with continued pursuit of economic diversification activities and tourism initiatives such as:
• Environmental planning and study for better marine access at Dungeness and Forrest Beach
• Further investigation of agricultural diversification and tourism opportunities
• In total $12.6m will be spent on capital works and capital projects throughout the Shire including:
• Upgrades to the Lucinda swimming enclosure
• Adventure playground equipment at Forrest Beach
• An additional pontoon at Dungeness boat ramp
• Lannercost Street upgrades
• Herbert Street park activation

Other key capital projects include:

• $3.1m on roads, reseal and re-sheeting and drainage projects
• $3m on water infrastructure
• $1m on sewerage infrastructure
• $1.3m on plant and fleet
• $1.1m on Works for Queensland projects
• $750,000 Warren’s Hill Waste Management Facility remediation works
• $500,000 on rectification of Council’s information technology and communication infrastructure network

For more information regarding Council’s 2018/2019 Budget please visit Council’s website, Corporate Publications and Reports page.