Tom Tate on rate increases as councillors meet for special budget talks

Tom Tate has made major promise to Gold Coast residents if re-elected for a third term of office as Mayor.

TOM Tate is promising to keep rate increases to the same level of inflation if re-elected as Gold Coast Mayor for a third term.

The Bulletin asked Councillor Tate about council’s finances and future likely rate increases as he emerged from a closed door discussion at a special budget meeting at the Evandale Chambers.

His opponents in the council poll – Mona Hecke, Brett Lambert and Virginia Freebody – are about to be put under the spotlight for their budget plans as a series of meet the candidates forums gains pace in the lead-up to polling day on March 28.

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Mayor Tom Tate unveiling the Gold Coast City Council 2016-17 budget. Photo: David Clark

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Recommendations provided in a brief open session after the special budget meeting at council on Monday show councillors had approved $2.25 million to continue with the art gallery project that will be a centrepiece at HOTA.

“That decision was made by full council. It’s the continuation of council’s decision. It’s not in caretaking mode yet,” Cr Tate said.

“I think the will of the council in the last two terms is that we want not to have a half-finished gallery. I’m not worried at all (about it being stopped).

“I think if you go throughout the city they (potential future councillors) will know culturally, that’s what the people want. I’m so confident that for someone to come in and go ‘let me stop that’, they will be in the minority.”

Asked about the finances to be inherited by the future council, Cr Tate replied: “I think I can be confident that the next group of councillors and mayor has the opportunity to maintain the city rates at the increase of CPI or below.

“It’s up to them (what rate increase they suggest). I’ve been discussing it for eight years. I believe we can deliver light rail Stage 3, all the infrastructure and pay down debt. The debt was $865 million heading towards $1 billion, we’re down to $640 million.”

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Mayoral debate between Tom Tate and Mona Hecke at a UDIA lunch at the Hilton in Surfers Paradise. Picture: Jerad Williams

At the end of budget talks in June last year, Cr Tate announced he was delivering “a re-election budget and was so confident predicted “I’ll get in on a landside”.

Of his opponents, only Ms Hecke so far has set up a campaign office and created meet-and-greet meetings with residents to build her policy platform.

The city’s $1.7 billion budget saw the average residential rates rise by about 1.68 per cent with ratepayers paying an extra $49.70 a year.

Council is preparing to outlay up to $100 million across the next three years as its contribution to Stage 3A of light rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh.

“The idea is keep the trend of council rates to CPI, keep trend of debt going down but keep the trend of delivering infrastructure going up,” Cr Tate said.