{"id":319636,"date":"2022-06-14T14:41:13","date_gmt":"2022-06-14T04:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=319636"},"modified":"2022-07-06T14:41:19","modified_gmt":"2022-07-06T04:41:19","slug":"toowoomba-rates-rise-2-5pc-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2022\/06\/14\/toowoomba-rates-rise-2-5pc-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Toowoomba Rates Rise 2.5pc"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Toowoomba Deputy Mayor Cr Geoff McDonald, Mayor Paul Antonio and finance portfolio leader Cr Kerry Shine address the media to announce Toowoomba Regional Council’s 2022-23 Budget (Photo: TRC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 14, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

Toowoomba region households will face an average increase of $81 a year in Council rates and charges after Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) handed down its 2022-23 Budget on Monday.<\/p>\n

The Budget includes a 2.5 per cent rise in general rates for urban residents, the same as the past three years.<\/p>\n

However most households will experience a net increase of 2.35 per cent – about $1.56 per week – after discount. <\/strong><\/p>\n

This will cover all routine outgoings, including water and wastewater charges.<\/p>\n

In return, the Council will spend $360 million on service delivery during the coming year and $159 million on capital works.<\/p>\n

The Budget forecasts an operating deficit of $5.8 million for 2022-23, compared with a $783,168 surplus in 2021-22.<\/p>\n

This deficit is largely due to cuts to TRC’s federally funded Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs), which Council is contesting.<\/p>\n

The Queensland Treasury Corporation has maintained the Council\u2019s credit rating as sound with a neutral outlook.<\/p>\n

In his Budget speech, Mayor Paul Antonio noted recent flooding events had affected Council’s plans. <\/strong><\/p>\n

“We are working to complete emergency road repairs as quickly as possible in the wake of the four declared flood events in the past six months,” Mayor Antonio said.<\/p>\n

The estimated repair bill for flood damage to TRC’s roads and infrastructure could run as high as $100 million.<\/p>\n

Full restoration works are expected to take at least two years to complete.<\/p>\n

Major areas of capital expenditure in TRC’s 2022-23 Budget include:<\/strong><\/p>\n