Rate rise: Increase imminent in council budget

Ratepayers will pay more in the wake of the latest council budget which will be handed down in Maryborough on Wednesday afternoon.

Fraser Coast Council rates increase. Photo: Alistair Brightman / Fraser Coast Chronicle

Ratepayers will pay more in the wake of the latest council budget which is set to be handed down in Maryborough on Wednesday afternoon.

At a special meeting, the council is expected to reveal a 3.5 per cent increase ($2 a week) will apply to at least 83% of ratepayers.

This is on top of the average bill of about $3500.

It’s understood the council’s pitch will be that it offered a discount last year (some ratepayers still experienced an increase however as a result of state set land valuations) and more money is needed to fun major projects for the future and meet the needs of the rapidly growing population.

But the rise is expected to cause controversy amid ongoing housing shortage challenges and financial hardship resulting from COVID-19 restrictions and the general state of the Fraser Coast economy which continues to boast unenviable unemployment figures.

Council’s own statistics show rates are the number one issue raised by locals via the customer service centre.

$4.4 million in the $387 million budget has been set aside for “community grants and rates concessions”.

$154 million will cover capital works.

$48.8 million will go to roads, drainage and bridges, $37.1 million on water, waste and sewage, $7.9m on parks, pools and playgrounds, community grants, and, $4.1 million on arts and culture ventures, $3.6 million on footpaths and bikeways and $16millon on “major projects”.

More to come.