By SONJA KOREMANS
SOUTHERN DOWNS ratepayers can expect hip-pocket hit of more $150 from next month.
Mayor Peter Blundell announced a rate hike yesterday of 4 per cent along with the removal of the 7.5 per cent per discount for water supply and sewerage charges, meaning a total hit of at least $150 for most ratepayers.
Cr Blundell said he recognised that scrapping the discount on the water service charges would be “unpalatable”.
“This year’s budget required council to make tough decisions,” Cr Blundell said.
“Council is determined to reduce its level of debt.
“This has meant curtailing of expenditure in many areas of council operations in addition to the change in application of the discount.”
But councillors pointed out that the rate hike had come with a $2-million-plus increase in the council’s annual operating expenses and a 15 per cent rise in some staff wages.
At the closed council meeting this afternoon the budget was not supported by deputy mayor Ross Bartley and councillors Vic Pennisi and Jamie Mackenzie.
Cr Mackenzie said the budget resulted in average increases well over 10 per cent for water supply and sewerage charges.
“The general rates rise is almost double that in most of the surrounding regional councils,“ Cr Mackenzie said.
“Our message months ago to the mayor was to keep rates at CPI levels and to cut expenses to reduce debts. But we have been ignored.
“Instead, in this budget, the mayor proposes an overall increase in operating expenses exceeding $2.5 million.”
It was difficult to justify a rate increase above the CPI index when there had been a 15 per cent increase in wages for accounting staff and higher consultancy fees, materials costs and community grants, Cr Mackenzie said.
Rate notices will be sent out in August.
