Livingstone Shire Council adopt their 2024-25 budget

Residential property owners in the Livingstone shire will see an increase in their rates after council adopted the 2024-25 budget.

Livingstone Shire Council met on July 23 to adopt the 2024-25 budget.

Homeowners across the Livingstone shire will cop a combined increase of all rates and charges of more than three per cent after council adopted its 2024-25 budget.

Council met on Tuesday, July 23, where they adopted the $168.1 million budget which has been dubbed as a budget with a “focus on financial stability” in the shire.

The average residential property will have a combined increase of all rates and charges, including water access and consumption, of 3.26 per cent, which equates to $3 a week.

While the average primary production will receive a combined decrease of all rates and charges, excluding water access and consumption, of 4.65 per cent or $5.40 per week.

Commercial properties will have a combined increase of all rates and charges of 4.75 per cent, excluding water access and consumption, of 4.75 per cent, or $10.84 per week.

There was also a 4.2 per cent increase to the overall revenue raised in rates and separate charges.

As part of the budget council also made changes to its water pricing structure.

Council brought forward the transition to a two-tier water consumption charge by one year.

The first-tier allocation was also increased from 30kL to 90kL, which is higher than the average household quarterly consumption.

Households that consume 90kL of water will pay $119.70, which is $3 cheaper than the 2023-24 price.

Adam Belot LSC

Council also introduced a $10 residential waste facility charge, a new fee to contribute to the provision of waste management facilities, services and waste disposal vouchers.

These costs were previously largely covered by kerbside collection utility charges.

Council will continue to provide 10 waste disposal vouchers to residential properties.

Livingstone Shire Mayor Adam Belot said the budget was “meticulously considered” and prepared with a “strong focus” on outcomes that strive for economic sustainability for ratepayers in the Livingstone shire.

“Council has closely examined the rating structure and water pricing structure and I believe this budget strikes a balance between minimising financial impacts to the community and working towards a stronger and sustainable financial position,” he said.

“Council’s debt is expected to reduce by $6.172m to $42.371m, and we have no borrowings planned in 2024-25. We have an operating deficit of $0.174m to keep rates and charges as low as possible, in council’s continued efforts to reduce the rating burden on ratepayers.

“The Valuer-General undertook a shire-wide valuation for 2024, which saw an overall increase of 26 per cent since the land valuation issued in 2022. Council has reviewed its rating category valuation bandings and rating categories to smooth out the volatile impacts of valuation changes.”

Mr Belot said council was consistently experiencing cost increases on materials and services required to maintain and construct its extensive infrastructure network.

“Council actively maintains 700km of sealed roads, 760km of unsealed roads, 400km of stormwater pipes, 82 bridges and major structures, and 342.5km of sewerage pipes,” he said.

“The cost of materials to maintain this massive network is only rising, and we must take responsible measures now to set our local community on a course for controlled growth.”

Originally published as Livingstone Shire Council adopt their 2024-25 budget