Residents can expect a 2.8 per cent rise in general rates under the City of Launceston’s 2018-2019 budget, now released for public comment.
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The median residential rate for the municipality is now $1469.24, including a $172.58 Fire Service Levy and $105 for waste charges – an average rise of $42.68 since last year.
The residential rates charge includes a $4 charge for one entry token to the waste centre.
Rates for primary production are expected to increase by 1.17 per cent.
City of Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten said he believed the rates had been kept as low as possible in a complicated budget under pressure from “extraneous” costs.
A reduced TasWater distribution, increase in depreciation and ongoing maintenance costs, an increase in labour costs after EBA negotiations, and the cost of upcoming local government elections in October, all placed pressure on the budget, he said.
The council has also resolved to pass on the Fire Service Levy to all retirement homes, which the council collects on behalf of the state government.
Alderman van Zetten said retirement homes had been receiving a rates remission for the levy, with the council shouldering the bill.
“That has meant that the council's ratepayers have effectively been subsidising that remission,” he said.
"We no longer believe that is sustainable nor equitable for council and its ratepayers.”
Alderman van Zetten said the council had faced “a number of challenges” in establishing the operating budget but had determined to maintain a $188,000 underlying surplus.
The 2017-2018 underlying surplus was $1.3 million.
A capital expenditure of $20.8 million is also proposed, including $5.43 million for road upgrades, and $2.1 million for UTAS Stadium and Invermay Park.
Public submissions will end on April 30, with council making final determinations on the annual budget and rates on June 18.
