‘Unusual step’: Why councillor voted against new Bundaberg Regional Council budget

“This is the 22nd budget I’ve been involved in and never in my wildest dreams could I have envisioned myself voting against such an important document,” Cr Barnes said.

Bundaberg Regional Council adopts the 2021-22 budget.

While the mayor has dubbed the 2021-22 Bundaberg Regional Council budget “responsible”, one councillor voted against its adoption.

The Bundaberg Regional Council adopted the 2021-22 after a special budget meeting on Tuesday with a general rate rise of 1.9 per cent, close to CPI.

Cr Dempsey’s sentiment was echoed by the council’s finance portfolio spokesman Cr Steve Cooper but Cr Greg Barnes said he would not support the budget.

Cr Cooper said despite the region taking a financial hit during the pandemic, the budget had delivered modest increases for residents.

“Council lost millions of dollars in revenue at the height of the COVID outbreak and is still experiencing the ongoing economic implications,” Cr Cooper said.

“Despite this, in the last 12 months council delivered more than $2m in COVID-related support for our community.

“Council has worked hard to keep this year’s rate increase close to CPI while ensuring we maintain our capacity to deliver the services and projects our community expected.”

Cr Cooper said for the average urban residential ratepayer this year’s increases would equate to about $2.25 per week, which excludes any individual water consumption charges.

He said more than 10,000 Bundaberg region ratepayers were receiving the pensioner discount at a total cost of $1.7m.

“A new $100 Community Wellbeing and Environment Charge will replace the two separate Community and Environment and Rural Fire Levy charges to provide funding surety to public safety, emergency management and community projects,” Cr Cooper said.

“This will help to ensure our local organisations can continue to provide vital services despite a State Government funding shortfall.

“Organisations like Sure Life Saving Queensland, SES, LifeFlight, Rural Fire Service and RFDS wouldn’t survive at current service levels without council support.”

In the 2021-22 budget there’s a $89m capital budget and $207 operating budget.

In an overview $6.6m is allocated to the Bundaberg Regional Aquatic Centre with all stages to be delivered in three years, $3.8m in drainage, $15.9m investment in water, $4.2m in wastewater, $2.1m for pathways, $27.4m for roads, $3.5m for parks and open spaces and $2m in public safety contributions.

During the meeting Cr Barnes expressed his concern for the agricultural sector, particularly those in category 9, stating his disbelief that this budget had “fully compensated” those who had significant rate rises from land valuations.

Nor was he comfortable with the increase in the amount attributed to the levy.

“This is the 22nd budget I’ve been involved in and never in my wildest dreams could I have envisioned myself voting against such an important document – [I’m] voting against it, I must,” he said.

Part of the reason for his stance stemmed from being denied access to a document he had requested.

When the Mayor questioned which part of the actual budget the councillor was referring to Cr Barnes said it wouldn’t be appropriate to highlight the actual document at this point in time, but he believed it may related to the expenditure of ratepayer funds.

Cr Barnes said while he respected the process of local government and the need to adopt a responsible budget, he “cannot and will not” compromise his integrity and that of his vote under the circumstances.

Cr Dempsey referred to the meetings opening section where councillors could declare conflicts of interest or material personal interest in the budget items to be discussed at the meeting.

Cr Barnes said given the confidentiality surrounding the matter he didn’t think it was appropriate to comment further.

“I’m elected by the people to represent them and I believe that I do so without personal interest and without any personal gain.”

Cr Barnes said he believed the community and those who he represent were entitled to know why he was taking the “unusual” step of voting against the budget.

The agricultural rate in the dollar last budget was 1.4077 and this budget is 1.4344.

Cr Cooper said the 2021-22 council budget was fair for all ratepayers.

“We considered representations from Dean Cayley and Tom Marland to give Canegrowers a $2.6m special deal but felt this would have been unfair to all other ratepayer categories, specifically residential ratepayers, mums and dads, pensioners and small business operators whose valuations didn’t increase last year,” he said.

“The median change in rural land value in the Bundaberg region last year was 46.6 per cent across 1791 properties.

“The change in median land value across 28,062 residential properties was 0.9 per cent.

“If non-agricultural ratepayer who didn’t have the benefit of increased equity were left to pick up this bill it would have been an increase of about $59 per household, or an additional 1.75 per cent general rate increase.”

He said a QEAS report commissioned by Canegrowers found that Bundaberg Regional Council was middle of the road compared with other local governments.

“The report confirms we reduced the rate in the dollar for cane farms,” he said.