Mount Isa Mayor Joyce McCulloch said this year's rate rise of 2.9% was "moderate" and represented an average increase for a residential property of $95 annually, or $1.80 per week for Council rates and charges.
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"This should come as a great relief to our ratepayers," Cr McCulloch said.
"We are mindful the community is doing it hard and we have tried to be responsible."
Cr McCulloch says their 2019/20 budget handed down at its Wednesday June 26 special meeting would renew the city's infrastructure and promote liveability.
"It is affordable, achievable and in the best interests of our city," she said.
It is affordable, achievable and in the best interests of our city
- Joyce McCulloch
Water access charges go up in line with the rate increase but the $0.87 consumption charge remains in place - now for the first 1000 KL, then $3 for the next 1000 and $4 beyond that.
The total value of this year's budget is $101 million.
Council has a $32 million capital works schedule for the year ahead and will spend $11.7 million on roads and pavements and $4.5 million on city-wide water and sewer upgrades.
There is $4.6 million towards parks, footpath rehabilitation and CBD beautification, and $4.7 million for upgrades at the Civic Centre, Outback at Isa and Buchanan Park.
Council will continue concessions for eligible groups and individuals including pensioners who may eligible for up to $280 back on their council charges.
There is $1m for waste levy infrastructure and $345,000 for a business plan for the Transport and Logistics Centre. Cr McCulloch said $7.5m has been allocated to the Isa Street Bridge replacement project over two years, and $3.9m towards water security and efficiency measures including a city-wide smart meter roll out.
"This will be a great 12 months for Mount Isa to move forward in water security, with a number of reservoir related works and the smart meter project," she said.
Cr McCulloch said they would rollout new smart water meters in the next financial year.
"They will do a lot more for our residents than our current meters, with smart meters it's real time," she said.
"We are trying to reduce access charges going forward.
"We'll be able to find concealed leaks so people don't have to pay for water they are not using."
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
