Rates rises kept to a minimum in considered budget

Minimum owner-occupier residential rates will rise by $1.22 per week in the 2022 - 2023 financial year, which equates to $63.45 annually.

Council has applied a number of treatments in this year's Budget to mitigate impacts of extreme valuation changes and achieved reasonable, balanced contributions to the revenue needs of the Scenic Rim region.

Council is continuing the averaging of valuation changes over a two-year period and has also made a further step change to the community infrastructure charge, applicable to each rateable property, increasing by $53 to $500 per rateable property.

This approach adjusts the balance of reliance on 'rate in the dollar' (valuation dollar) contributions to minimise the impact of property valuation changes, which have increased by 24.9 per cent overall across the Scenic Rim.

For a principal place of residence, the rate in the dollar reduces from $0.7013 cents to $0.6392 cents.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the combined general rates and community infrastructure charge for a minimum rate residential principal place of residence will increase by $1.22* a week in the 2022-2023 budget.

For a rural principal place of residence, the rate in the dollar reduces from $0.5961 cents to $0.5258 cents.

Mayor Christensen said the combined general rates and community infrastructure charge for a minimum rate rural principal place of residence will increase by $1.31* a week in the 2022-2023 budget.

Overall, Council's revenue position increases by 4.09 per cent based on the combined general rates and community infrastructure charge that will be applied this financial year.

“Council understands that many people were probably fearful of rates going up significantly in line with the new valuations,” he said.

“Our rural landowners saw their property valuations increase by 33.2 per cent, while non-rural property valuations increased in value by 18.42 per cent.

“We considered the implications of these new valuations throughout the budget deliberations so we could deliver a budget that has minimal financial pressure on our community.”

Mayor Christensen said Scenic Rim was not the only Council to face challenges in the current environment as we secure the revenue needed to service our growing community and aging infrastructure whilst minimising the impact on our ratepayers.

"As a region that is highly reliant on its own source of revenue through rates and charges, satisfying these expectations whilst fulfilling our legislative, asset and financial sustainability obligations will continue to be challenging.

“We believe $1.22 a week for a property on minimum rates is a fair amount for Council to continue providing quality services to the community, particularly at a time where inflationary pressures on Council's costs are at high levels.”

The community infrastructure charge supports the delivery of Council’s road and bridge maintenance and upgrade program.

“The increase in the charge this year is a result of Council's prioritisation of funding towards maintaining our extensive network of roads and bridges, in line with community expectations,” Mayor Christensen said.

When the general rates and community infrastructure charges are combined, the following minimum increases apply (*early payment discount applied):

In addition, the domestic waste collection charge will increase by $36 a year, or 69 cents a week, while for those properties not on a collection service, the waste disposal charge will increase $13 a year, or 25 cents a week.

Mayor Christensen said Council’s financial position was rated with a low risk with respect to financial sustainability in the QAO (Queensland Audit Office) report on Local Government 2021.

While Council has received a good rating from the QAO, Council must maintain a practical long-term strategy to financial sustainability to ensure the expected levels of service to the community are met, together with the ability to appropriately maintain the extensive infrastructure throughout the region.

Learn more about the 2022-2023 Budget at www.scenicrim.qld.gov.au/2022-2023-budget