The budget was, generally speaking, a good one and the rate rise of 2.9% is not excessive – despite the angry chatter on social media.

I know many are doing it hard in Mount Isa but council needs to pay its bills and needs a big budget to cover its work on roads, sewerage, water, park and gardens and three venues it owns (Civic Centre, Buchanan Park and Outback at Isa).

I work with other editors across eastern Australia and they tell me about double digit rate rises in their areas, particularly in New South Wales.

In Queensland, Isa’s rises are on a par with many other councils: Brisbane (2.4%), Sunshine Coast (2.3%), Moreton Bay (3.99%), Western Downs (2.9%), Bundaberg (3.45%), Redland (2.73%), Cairns (1.75%), Townsville (1.48%), Ipswich (2.95%) – And unlike Isa these regional figures don’t include water charges.

Councils rely on scarce government grants and MICC’s ability to craft good grant applications will become increasingly important so having an economic strategy to back it up is useful. However, I was disappointed to hear the council had not extended the contract of its new CEO Michael Kitzelmann at the end of his six month probation period. 

Mr Kitzelmann came with a good CV, including an impressive stint most recently as CEO of Etheridge Shire Council so he was intimately familiar with the issues affecting North Queensland.

I understand things might not always work out with staffing and that is why companies have that six month probationary “safety valve”. 

But it does mean Council has to seek its third CEO in under 12 months at a time when it needs strong and stable operational leadership.

Good candidates may be put off by the manner of Mr Kitzelmann’s departure, particularly as I understand it may involve the legal process.

Let’s hope the matter doesn’t drag out and Mount Isa City Council gets the CEO it needs at the helm quickly. – Derek Barry