Travel savings expected in ‘no-frills’ Logan budget
Logan mayor Darren Power delayed his first budget because of the coronavirus but ratepayers will find the pandemic also saved them some money when the city’s finances are revealed on Monday. WATCH THE MAYOR’S BUDGET TEASER
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Logan ratepayers have been warned to expect a “no-frills” deal when mayor Darren Power hands down his first budget on Monday.
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Cr Power said the coronavirus made it the toughest budget he had ever had to draft in his 23 years in council but was confident it would be balanced.
He said the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, lower-than-forecast growth and several low rate increases, were factors that made balancing the books a challenge.
In an ironic twist, the pandemic is likely to have had a positive effect in the budget with the council poised to register huge savings from grounding bureaucrats and elected members from flying internationally or interstate.
In an unprecedented move, councillors and senior council staff agreed to forego a pay increase, while free councillor lunches and travel have also been scrapped.
In a pre-budget teaser, the council also announced it had frozen its component of water bills and offered nearly $3 million over a two-phase package of coronavirus relief for businesses.
“It won’t be the most popular budget, but it’s the right budget to deliver at this time,” he said.
“Council has made some really hard decisions but we are positive it will be a good budget in some respects and responsible as these are hard times.
“We don’t know what’s emerging particularly in the southern states with what they are going through with COVID so we are being very responsible.”
Cr Power made no apology for delaying the budget by three weeks saying the extra time with the city’s books was needed to bring nine new councillors up to speed with the finances.
It also gave Logan the opportunity to see what other councils included in their budgets.
HOW OTHER COUNCILS SPENT THEIR MONEY
Brisbane decided to freeze rates rises for six months but it is unlikely Logan will follow suit.
In 2021, Brisbane rates will increase by an average of 2.25 per cent with the minimum general rates increasing by $18.36 for owner-occupied properties and $24.44 for non-owner occupied, bringing them to $752.12 and $1001.72 respectively.
Ipswich posted a moderate rates rise of 2.75 per cent in residential rates, which equated to about 98c a week for every household and a 2.4 per cent rise for commercial properties.
Moreton Bay ratepayers copped a 2 per cent rate rise with the council announcing record spending in order to support the COVID-19 recovery.
Redland ratepayers experienced an increase in general rates of 2.99 which equated to about 62 cents a week for a typical residential ratepayer.
The Logan budget will also include a second COVID-19 relief package and spending on community infrastructure, while roads and water will be the big ticket items.
A 50 per cent discount for local businesses on their 2020/21 licence fees is in place until September, and water charges will be waived for community and sporting clubs.
Despite a paring back in revenue, Cr Power said no services, including the highly popular kerbside pick-up, would be cut.