October 25, 2022
by Dafyd Martindale
South Burnett councillors and staff are putting an unprecedented nine months’ work into preparing the region’s 2023-24 Budget in a bid to deliver the best possible outcome for residents.
Cr Kirstie Schumacher had previously commented that she felt rushed when considering the 2022-23 Budget.
On Monday, councillors met for the first in a series of Budget meetings that they plan to hold regularly from now until next June.
They were told Brisbane’s CPI had risen 7.3 per cent during the past year.
While 79 per cent of this increase had occurred in the cost of dwellings and household goods – which have little impact on Council’s costs – SBRC finance staff plan to use half this rate (ie. a 3.65 per cent increase) to assist development of a “business as usual” Budget for 2023-24.
As well, several rises foreshadowed in the 2022-23 Budget will occur as planned.
These planned increases are:
- Water access and consumption (excluding high volume commercial) – 6 per cent
- Water consumption – high volume commercial – 1 per cent
- Wastewater access and pedestals – 3 per cent
- Waste management levy – 6 per cent
- Wheelie bin collection – 3 per cent
- Recycling bin collection – 3 per cent
The 6 per cent rise in water charges and 3 per cent increase in sewerage charges – which were introduced in this year’s Budget – will apply each year for the next decade.
The aim of these increases is to build an $80 million war chest to replace the South Burnett’s ageing water and sewerage systems which are reaching the end of their working lives.
The State Government’s Waste Management Levy is also forecast to rise by 6 per cent next year, and increases in waste collection costs will flow through from Council’s contractors which are facing rising costs in their own businesses.
The remaining portion of the Budget – general rates – will be determined by Council’s appetite to reduce its projected $3.52 million deficit; by any cost-reducing efficiencies that can be found and by estimating how much extra funding Council might receive in Federal and State government grants.
Councillors were told no significant changes were expected in the SBRC’s schedule of fees and charges.
By law, Council needs to set fees and charges at cost for all services it delivers.
