This was published 6 years ago
Rates to rise 2.5 per cent in Brisbane City Council budget
Brisbane ratepayers have been hit with a 2.5 per cent rate rise, or $40 a year, as part of lord mayor Graham Quirk’s $3.1 billion 2018-19 budget.
The budget, to be handed down on Wednesday, will be the eighth budget Cr Quirk has delivered.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's 2018-19 budget will include an average 2.5 per cent rates rise. Credit: Chris Hyde
The $10-per-quarter rate rise comes about five weeks after Cr Quirk ended speculation of retirement and confirmed he would nominate to run in the 2020 Brisbane City Council election.
While the rate rise is only a marginal increase since the past financial year, it was still above Brisbane’s March quarter inflation rate of 1.7 per cent.
On Tuesday Cr Quirk said the 2018-19 budget would not be an "extreme budget" but would be responsible.
“It will be a sensible, straightforward budget. Workmanlike,” he said.
“[It will] deliver on the important issues of infrastructure, liveability and lifestyle in our city as well the services people have come to expect.”
Cr Quirk said the budget would ensure the Brisbane Metro was fully funded and operational by 2023.
However, the almost $40 million allocated for the early works of the $944 million project in 2018-19 is about $38 million less than what was shown in the forward estimates of the past budget.
On the Tuesday evening before the release of the budget, Opposition Leader Peter Cumming said he had “no confidence” in Cr Quirk keeping the rates rise below inflation.
“They normally only do that the budget before the election, this is two budgets before the election so no [council won’t keep rates below inflation],” he said.
Cr Quirk said the average increase to council fees and charges would also be 2.5 per cent.
Pensioners and part-pensioners are eligible for remission on their rates bills.
Other known outcomes of the $3.1 billion 2018-19 budget are:
- $12 million flood resilient home program
- $23 million in pool upgrades in 2018-19, about $5.5 million more than previously committed
- 100 new “SpeedyCat” CityCat services a week from September as part of a $68 million spend in 2018-19 for new river transport services
Average rate rises in Brisbane during Graham Quirk's tenure as lord mayor: