Budget delivers 15pc slug
THE typical ratepayer will be slugged about 15 per cent more for Cairns Regional Council rates and fees.
While general rates rose 7.1 per cent when Mayor Val Schier handed down the newly elected council's first Budget yesterday, increases in sewage, cleansing, water and the Cleaner Seas levy will more than double that figure.
The general rate rise includes the scrapping of the previous 5 per cent early payment discount.
The minimum combined rates and fees rise will be 12.2 per cent, the regional council's corporate services manager, Brett Grosser, confirmed yesterday.
It was also revealed that when $37 to cover the loss of the greening allowance of 45 kilolitres of free water is added, house owners will face a minimum rise of 15 per cent.
About 50 per cent of ratepayers are on the minimum rate and will be affected by these figures.
Based on council documents, the minimum Cairns households paid last year was $1461.22 for general rates and services fees.
This year, an extra $224 will have to be found to pay for general rates, sewage, water, garbage and the Cleaner Seas levy.
The Budget contained better news for former Douglas Shire residents whose rates on average are set to drop by about $100 since amalgamation into the Cairns Regional Council.
Cr Robert Pyne, who voted against the Budget, said most people would be paying a double digit increase when those service charges were taken into account.
He said rates and service fees were seen as one and the same thing by residents.
"People do not say they are going in to pay their rates, sewage, water and cleansing charge, they say they are going in to pay their rates," he said.
"What the public sees is the final figure when they sign the cheques."
Cr Paul Gregory said some rural property owners would be facing a hike of 25 per cent on rates alone because of increased property values as well as the rates and fees hike.
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