{"id":377481,"date":"2026-11-10T16:54:39","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T06:54:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=377481"},"modified":"2026-11-10T17:07:17","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T07:07:17","slug":"overdue-rates-bill-slashed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/11\/10\/overdue-rates-bill-slashed\/","title":{"rendered":"Overdue Rates Bill Slashed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cr Heath Sander, at back, Cr Jane Erkens, Cr Danita Potter, CEO Mark Pitt, Mayor Kathy Duff, Deputy Mayor Linda Little, Cr Deb Dennien and Cr Ros Heit with the 2025-26 Annual Report (Photo: SBRC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 10, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Overdue rates owed to the South Burnett Regional Council were slashed during 2025-26, Council’s latest annual report reveals.<\/p>\n

In 2023-24, rate arrears were $4,379,303 or 7.03 per cent; in 2025-26, this figure had dropped to $2,878,087 or 2.96 per cent.<\/p>\n

The fall has largely been attributed to Council convincing landholders who had slipped behind in their rates to start payment plans.<\/p>\n

The figures are contained in the SBRC’s 2025-26 Annual Report which was adopted at last week’s Special Meeting.<\/p>\n

The SBRC had an operating deficit of $2.2 million in 2025-26, down from $2.8 million the previous year.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

This reduction was caused by a rise in revenue from rates, fees and charges but also from savings made in operating expenses.<\/p>\n

Recurrent expenses were cut by $10.9 million, with large savings in contractors\u2019 payments and consultants\u2019 fees.<\/p>\n

Revenue from rates, levies and charges rose by 5.5 per cent to $64.4 million.<\/p>\n

Mayor Kathy Duff said Council had delivered a very modest rate rise; this occurred despite a 54.2 per cent increase in rateable land values in the South Burnett region in 2025.<\/p>\n

Government grants and subsidies received rose by 8.4 per cent to $51.8 million, with large increases in State Government capital grants.<\/p>\n

Council\u2019s largest expense – wages, salaries and allowances – increased by 8.3 per cent to $32.4 million, the result of an increase in full-time equivalent employees from 330 to 354, and inflation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Total payments, including salaries and allowances, to the Mayor and six councillors rose by a total of 8.5 per cent to $792,061.<\/p>\n

Council held cash and at-call deposits of $118.3 million at June 30, 2026.<\/p>\n

These reserves provide sufficient coverage for up to 17 months of operating expenses, well in excess of the benchmark of three months\u2019 reserve holdings.<\/p>\n

This strong liquidity allowed the SBRC to reduce its debt to the Queensland Treasury Corporation by $3.3 million.<\/p>\n