THE George Town Council has tightened its belt in preparation for a difficult financial year.
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The council yesterday passed its draft annual plan, capital works budget and rates and charges for 2014-15 at its council meeting.
All ratepayers have moved onto the average area rate and an increase of $32 a year has been applied to the 2013-14 planning zone-based average.
The non-residential sector will see an increase of 2.8 per cent. The minimum general rate payable increased from $620 to $640.
Residents at Low Head will be hit the hardest with a $972 bill, while ratepayers at Beechford, Bellingham, Lefroy, Lulworth and Weymouth will pay the least at $822.
The budget estimates that $5.9 million will be raised in rates revenue.
Deputy Mayor Bridget Archer made her distaste for the average area rate system known, labelling it "unfair".
Cr Tim Parish said the extra $32 a year was "agreeable given the money needed" and Cr George O'Sign explained he voted for the system because "to change it back will cause too much pain to too many people".
Speaking to the capital works budget, Cr Tim Cory said it was "making good use of money".
"No matter how hard you try, you get a hiding for nothing," he said.
A George Town resident pointed out the continuation of a walking trail at Low Head from the Pilot Station to Penguin Beach was not included in the capital works budget.
"The continuation of that trail is another phase we need to go through," Mayor Roger Broomhall said.
Cr Tim Parish commended the council's employees on their work in the budget estimates and making of rates and charges document.
"I think we improved on last year, and last year we improved on the year before," Cr Parish said.
Cr Archer agreed, but said: "I appreciate that there's been constraints on that process ... it's probably less than what we would desire as a document."