Brisbane City Council Budget 2019: Rate hike to hit Brisbane businesses

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has hit owners of commercial property with another above-inflation rate increase, and will charge them 68.5 per cent more for dumping waste, despite saying the 2019 City Council Budget will back small businesses.

Small businesses are to be hit with an above-inflation rate hike. Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

BRISBANE commercial property owners face another above-inflation rate hike despite Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner pitching his first budget as backing small business.

The average commercial property hit of 3.5 per cent follows a 4.1 per cent increase last year that was designed to claw back revenue write downs in other areas.

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Cr Schrinner defended the rate rise as being “consistent with what has happened in the past”.

“We need to fund the growth of our city and the development of our city and we also look at the ability of commercial property owners to claim a tax deduction as well,” he said.

The Budget contained a $2 million package to boost small business and rejuvenate suburban retail precincts.

Cr Schrinner said annual footpath dining fees would be slashed in half for new cafes and restaurants, saving them about $670, while food business licensee fees will also be halved, saving start-ups almost $400 a year.

Ongoing annual fees for small businesses will also be reduced by 10 per cent.

“We are creating a city of neighbourhoods by bringing new life to retail precincts in the suburbs while backing small business with more support and lower fees,” he said.

There are more than 124,000 small businesses in Brisbane and Cr Schrinner said they were the “backbone” of the local economy.

“The discounts offered will be focussed on fees and charges that small businesses are most often impacted by, such as suburban footpath dining permits, food van licenses, market stall fees and business advertising applications,” he said.

COMMERCIAL WASTE FEES TO JUMP BY 68.5 PER CENT

Brisbane businesses will also be stung with hefty increases to their dumping fees when the council’s new charges kick in from July 1.

Budget documents today revealed commercial waste fees will increase to about $221.20 a ton next financial year – up a staggering 68.5 per cent from the previous year.

Commercial dumping fees for loads of between 100kg and 500kg will more than double in 2019-20 to $73.40, while loads of up to 100kg will cost $21.40.

It comes off the back of the introduction of the Palaszczuk Government’s waste levy, which recently prompted Logan Council to increase their dumping fees as well.

There have been minimal increases to green waste dumping, which will cost about $102.70 per ton in 2019-20.

The dumping of domestic general solid waste will also only increase by about $3 to $134.60 per ton.

A spokesman for the Lord Mayor’s office blamed the Palaszczuk Government’s waste levy for the massive increase.

Unlike last year’s Council Budget, parking fees increased slightly, with most increases at about 10c.

Parking in the city between 7am and 7pm for up to three hours will cost $5, while parking between 7am and 7pm with cost about $3.10.