Your say: Toowoomba Regional Council expected to hike rates to balance its budget

The Toowoomba mayor has foreshadowed a big rate increase and cuts to incentives as the council prepares to hand down it 2025-26 budget, but The Chronicle readers are not buying it. Here is what you said.

Toowoomba Regional Council mayor Geoff McDonald and deputy mayor Rebecca Vonhoff. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A poll of The Chronicle readers has found 82 per cent would rather Toowoomba Regional Council cut services than raise rates as it attempts to balance its 2025-26 budget.

The council has been hamstrung by inflation, with significant increases to the cost of fuel, electricity, insurance and construction materials.

It is also desperately looking for about $266m to fund an upgrade the Cressbrook Dam spillway that has been mandated by the Queensland safety regulator.

The situation is so bad, sources within the organisation revealed to News Corp that the councillors were seriously considered a rate rise as much as 14 per cent.

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald said the situation was much worse, with the councillors toying with a near 30 per cent increase.

“Thankfully, we’re looking at ways in which we can bring that back significantly for our community,” Mr McDonald said.

These included removing the incentives for property owners who pay their rates bill on time, along possible increases to fees and charges.

Readers took to social media to vent their frustration.

“Homeowners should expect a rate rise in line with inflation and no more,” John Thomas said.

“My road is full of potholes, I phoned the council and they said they’d fix it, that was weeks ago, the holes are only getting bigger and now they have the hide to hike up rates,” Antonia Hildebrand said.

“We are all extremely worried about what Council may do,” Ros Cranks said.

“The Council is totally gas lighting ratepayers,” Phil Seeney said.

“Initially considering rise of up to 28 per cent, they know that would never fly but the increase will come in around 9 per cent which won’t seem so bad.

“Don’t fall for the spin.”

“How about the TRC live within its means and not introduce stupid, wasteful projects,” Brett Jones said.

“It’s just disgusting that the easy way out is to just increase costs when you can’t run your business properly,” Daryl Broadman said

“It may be time to have a look under your own bonnet and check you don’t need an engine rebuild.

“The carry on about Cressbrook Dam is enough to make you sick when you should have done this when you were told to and would have had the funds.

“Don’t now put it on everyone to fix your inefficiencies.”

“I am pretty angry about this coming at a time when people are living in cars and tents or paying exorbitant rents,” Brenda Campbell said.

“The council bright sparks thought, ‘let’s put up rates’.

“Everyone should be making themselves heard on this, it’s a basic human right to have a roof over your head not a tent.”

Originally published as Your say: Toowoomba Regional Council expected to hike rates to balance its budget