Brisbane ratepayers will have an average 2.5 per cent rise in their rates bill in 2015-16, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said on the eve of handing down his $2.6 billion Brisbane City Council budget.
With the rates rise, the average annual Brisbane rates bill would increase by about $32.20 to $1322 in the next financial year.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says the Seaview Hotel at Shorncliffe should be protected.Credit: Michelle Smith
Cr Quirk said the budget would retain its 40 per cent remission for full pensioners, capped at $924.
"I am conscious of the pressures for residents on a pension so the ceiling amounts for full and part pension rebates for rates will rise 2.5 per cent in line with the level of rates increase," he said.
"Brisbane pensioners receive the most generous discounts of any south-east Queensland local government area on their rates bills and we also offer a generous remission on water and sewerage accounts capped at $472.
"Brisbane is the only SEQ local authority to help pensioners meet their water and sewerage bills."
Brisbane's rates rise would be well above the city's rate of inflation, which was 1.4 per cent in the year to March.
In his final pre-budget announcements, Cr Quirk said $100 million – up from $60 million – would be spent on road resurfacing on 380 streets as part of the Smoother Suburban Streets program.
Cr Quirk said the council's bus network subsidy would rise to a record $81.9 million, with an additional $7.1 million for the CityGlider high-frequency services and $25.4 million for CityCats and ferries.
"As the only city council in Australia that runs a public transport system, we will continue our commitment to the bus and ferry network with a $114 million in the budget," he said.
"Our bus fleet is now the most modern in Australia – we have delivered 1090 new buses since 2004 with another 60 new buses in the coming year, 100 per cent of the fleet is air conditioned and 100 per cent low floor disability accessible.
"We will continue to improve the wheelchair and mobility aid accessibility of Brisbane's bus network with a $7.6 million project to upgrade the city's network of bus stops.
"Council will also undertake a trial of dedicated priority seating at CBD bus stops to make these bus stops more accessible to passengers who are elderly, people with a disability, pregnant women and parents with small children."
In addition, local councillors would receive $30,000 to manage portable speed warning signs, which Cr Quirk said had reduced speeds on suburban streets by an average 10 per cent.
"(The councillors will have) the discretion to spend this by rotating their existing signs to their chosen locations or purchasing additional signs," he said.
Cr Quirk will deliver his budget speech at City Hall on Wednesday morning.