Moreton Bay rates increase 3.9 per cent, double the increase in 2020

Moreton Bay ratepayers will have to fork out more this year with the rate rise almost double that of last year and higher than Tuesday’s increase for Brisbane ratepayers. WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU

Moreton Bay ratepayers will cop a 3.9 per cent rate rise in 2021-22 with the council announcing another record spend to boost jobs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Council adopted the $743 million budget, which includes putting $245 million into capital works projects, today.

It isn’t just council spending big though with the rate rise to hurt ratepayers hip-pockets.

Average total rates bills for owner-occupiers will increase by 3.9 per cent, which is on average an extra $1.20 a week or $62 a year.

This includes an increase in the regional infrastructure environment charge from $84 to $90 per property this year.

Mayor Peter Flannery and CEO Greg Chemello with their team from the Moreton Bay Regional Council hand down the budget. Photo: Sarah Marshall

The average rate rise is higher than the Brisbane City Council rate rise of 3.75 per cent announced earlier this week, and almost double the 2 per cent rate rise imposed by Moreton Bay council for the 2020-2021 financial year.

Councillor Matt Constance, who oversees the finance portfolio, told the council during the budget meeting today the financial impact of coronavirus was unavoidable.

“But I’m pleased to say our CEO and finance team have worked incredibly hard and successfully delivered on our request to ensure any rates rise would be reasonable,” Cr Constance said.

“General rates for an owner-occupied house will increase 3.6 per cent and average total rates for an owner-occupied house will increase 3.9 per cent.

“To minimise the rates rise we will be increasing Council borrowings this year by $50 million, which we are able to do thanks to our strong fiscal position.

“This means we will have an operating surplus of $55.3 million, which is a very healthy position.”

Councillor Matt Constance is the councillor in charge of the finance portfolio.

Cr Constance highlighted that it was the council’s 12th consecutive surplus budget.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the budget was all about “bouncing back”.

“Against the backdrop of these complicated pressure, the hardest thing to balance this financial year has been keeping rates low while also spending enough to keep our resurgent economy charging,” Cr Flannery said.

“In the Moreton Bay region, rates account for 50 per cent of our revenue.

“We do not take this lightly, in fact it was the most important consideration with regards to the increase in required revenue.

“I’m proud to say that not only have we minimised the rate rise, we’ve also retained all of the rebates that are paid to pensioners.

“That includes the $250 rebate for full pensioners and $100 rebate for part-pensioners that we introduced in the last year.”