Recommendations for the council’s 2018-19 budget included a property rate increase of 6.04 per cent for residents of Bellingham, Weymouth, Lulworth, Lefroy and Beechford. 

Under the recommendation, fees would be increased from $943 to $1000, representing a change of about $1.10 per week. 

Hillwood, Mt Direction, Pipers Brook and Pipers River residents were also facing a 4.78 per cent increase, with the recommended average rate to be $1030 per tenement – an increase of $47. 

For George Town and Low Head, the recommended rate increase was 2.44 per cent from $1062 per tenement to $1088. 

Under recommendations, waste management fees would also increase across the municipality. 

A service charge of $38 was proposed for the entire municipal area, with garbage fees recommended to rise to $215 for a 140 litre garbage and recycle bin.

The cost of 240 litre garbage and recycle bin could also increase to $311. 

George Town Mayor Bridget Archer previously told The Examiner council had worked hard to keep rate rises to a minimum. 

“Some residential areas will have a slightly larger increase this year, but generally it will be around 2.4 per cent,” she said.

“We have had a difficult financial situation the past 12 months so it’s pretty impressive the way we have managed to keep the rate rise to a minimum.”

Other proposed rate increases included vacant land rates from $685 to $703 across municipal areas on average area rates. 

The fire levy faced an increase of 4.9 per cent, which is about $40 per property.