The rates increase will amount to an extra sum of about $21 for ratepayers, with rises as high as $28 for Devon Hills properties and as low as $12 for properties in Conara and Epping.

Northern Midlands mayor David Downie said council had passed a responsible budget aimed at investing in new and improved infrastructure throughout the municipality.

“We've had to go a bit over the Consumer Price Index because we've got the debt from the airport to cater for but we've also got a lot of programs that we've got on the go,” Cr Downie said. 

“We're showing that we're moving forward in delivering what our communities require.”

The budget includes a capital works program of $13.9 million, which includes $1.1 million worth of projects carried forward from the previous financial year. 

Council will spend about $8.7 million on improving roads and bridges throughout the region, including a $510,000 redevelopment of Woolmers Lane at Longford and a $1.43 million project to replace timber bridges, including Lake River Bridge in Cressy, with concrete structures.

The program also includes $1.5 million of funding for the Campbell Town Oval redevelopment and $675,000 for stage 1 stormwater works at Western Junction. 

“We're investing in improving our buildings and the roads program, bridges, kerbs, guttering and pathways, so we're further improving the presentations of our towns,” Cr Downie said.

“There's the Campbell Town sporting precinct and the council has bought land in Ross; we're looking to develop a new park there in the centre of the village. 

“We're at the stage now of going through the planning and then (its future) will be up to the people of Ross.”

Cr Downie thanked council staff for their efforts throughout the last financial year.

“The hard work our staff do helps us deliver the projects that we have in the budget - we have very capable staff both inside and outside that make it possible to deliver a budget that is full of a lot of projects.”