Above-inflation charges in Schrinner’s first budget with rates to increase on average by 2.5 per cent

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has revealed rates will increase by as much as $115 a year in some suburbs, drawing harsh criticism from a former opponent who is pointing the finger of blame at the LNP. SEE FULL SUBURB BREAKDOWN

BRISBANE ratepayers will be slugged on average an extra $40 this coming financial year as Adrian Schrinner prepares to hand down his first and last budget before voters head to the polls.

Bonuses for City Hall executives will also be axed when the Lord Mayor unveils his balanced $3.1 billion pre-election budget tomorrow.

The budget will include a 2.5 per cent average rate rise for owner-occupied residential properties – the same increase delivered by the council last year.

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But it will still be above Brisbane’s most recent inflation rate of 1.5 per cent and will mean the average ratepayer will have to cough up an extra $40 a year – or 77 cents per week. The average increase to council fees and charges will also be 2.5 per cent.

Labor lord mayoral candidate Rod Harding said residents should be angry about the rate rise.

“They are right to be angry about the culture of waste that Adrian Schrinner and the LNP have brought to Council,” he said.

“We’ve seen $30 million wasted on a bungled IT project, hundreds of thousands wasted on LNP self-promotion, $3 million of ratepayers’ money on a private company’s zipline proposal.

“It all adds up under Adrian Schrinner and the LNP.”

He said the rate rise was due to costly blunders by the LNP.

New Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner at Brisbane City Council meeting, Monday, April 8, 2019 (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

Residents in Seven Hills will be hit with the biggest rate rise, with their annual bill to increase on average by 5.8 per cent – or $115.23. Residential rates in Wakerley will also jump by 5.8 per cent, while those in Robertson, Mansfield, Kenmore and Auchenflower will have a 5.4 per cent increase to their rates bill.

This is followed by Chapel Hill, Upper Mount Gravatt, Wishart and Paddington, where rates bills will increase by at least 4.7 per cent.

Residents in Seven Hills will be hit with the biggest rate rise, with their annual bill to increase on average by 5.8 per cent

Cr Schrinner said the budget outlined a raft of initiatives to deliver on his commitments to the community.

“This budget outlines my ambition for building an even better Brisbane over the next decade and protecting our incredible lifestyle and green space,” he said.

“The people of Brisbane can trust Team Schrinner to deliver a raft of new initiatives as well as keep delivering the local services they value – fantastic parks, wonderful libraries, modern transport and upgraded roads and footpaths.” Cr Schrinner also revealed the council would abolish their senior executive bonus scheme, presently available to dozens of staff.

“This scheme was introduced by former Labor lord mayor Jim Soorley and is something I will not be continuing,” he said.

Rates in several suburbs are also expected to drop. In Kangaroo Point, the average ratepayer will save $86.38.