By ALENA HIGGINS
A CONTROVERSIAL decision by Southern Downs Regional Council to increase general rate by five per cent and decrease the discount level has sparked outrage from inside and outside the chamber.
Mayor Peter Blundell used his casting vote last Wednesday to break a voting deadlock and pave the way for the hike after four of his fellow councillors refused to support the motion.
One of those, Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley, said other “sensible ideas” were tabled at the meeting that could have avoided the implementation of what was effectively a 7.5 per cent increase.
He said constituents who had spoken to him since the news broke were “ropeable”.
“We say five per cent but there is a 2.5 per cent reduction on your discount which has traditionally always been 10 per cent,” Cr Bartley said.
“I was insistent that it never go above 5 per cent as I gave my commitment to the community last budget.
“I believe the ratepaying community in the region have reached their capacity to pay – there is no more to give.”
Cr Blundell said the five per cent increase was necessary to achieve a small, $12,000 surplus in light of being one of 16 councils named as “financially unsustainable” by the State Government’s Auditor-General.
Under the 2014-’15 budget, residential ratepayers can expect to fork out $970 per year, up $45 from last year.
There will also be an introduction of half-yearly bills (no discount, but no interest charged) and capital works spending is expected to be slashed from $17 million to $12 million.
However, no job cuts have been foreshadowed.
Cr Bartley said council could have sidestepped the rate increase if it put a stay on its $3.1 million plant replacement program for 12 months.
“It is a pretty good fleet and regarded as one of the best in Queensland,” Cr Bartley said.
“Leaving the plant alone would have got us there with just a very small increase consistent with CPI.”
“I am well aware that state and federal governments have removed levels of funding from us, but when you have a reduction of income you tighten your belt a few notches and be conservative in your spending. You can’t always sit back on tradition.”
Grain grower Rod Petersen described the rate rise as a kick in the guts and said it was full-time farmers, like him, that copped the brunt.
“I know of farmers who are paying $16,000 to $18,000 (per year in rates) and I know of some farmers who will pay in excess of $30,000 with the new rate increases,” the Killarney farmer said.
“It’s considerable because some of those are probably the dairy farmers in small areas who are paying up to $10,000 and these are the same dairy farmers that are being screwed selling milk to Coles for less than the cost of a bottle of water, yet they are faced with this rate increase and an extra $750 per year.”
He also questioned the lack of job losses in the wake of spending cuts.
“Isn’t that just increasing the inefficiency within the shire?,” he said.
“Having the same number of people doing less work, that is not a sustainable attitude to take and not an attitude this shire can afford.”
For more on the budget and the mayor’s response see page 4.
