The Northern Midlands council will seek to balance demand for services and infrastructure with the community's capacity to pay in a "financially responsible" budget to be presented for adoption at Monday's meeting.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
General rates are slated to increase by 4.38 per cent in the 2019-20 financial year, with a capital works program - including projects carried forward from last year's budget - totaling $12 million.
The region's proposed rate increase comes after bumps of less than 3 per cent across the West Tamar, City of Launceston and Meander Valley councils were approved earlier this month.
Dorset council will also put forward its 2019-20 budget this week, with a general rate increase of 2.75 per cent to follow a 2.4 per cent rise last year. Both councils are set to meet Monday.
IN OTHER NEWS
The projected Local Government Association of Tasmania cost indexation of 3.38 per cent, plus a further 1 per cent in accordance with the council's long term financial plan, account for the full rise in the Northern Midlands - the largest in a decade.
"This increase is largely in line with expenditure increases to allow us to maintain existing service levels, fund a small number of new initiatives and continue to allocate funds to renew the municipal infrastructure with a small underlying operating surplus result." the budget report says.
The minimum rate will rise $21 to $494 for residential and commercial land, and $27 to $299 for rural, industrial, vacant and public purpose land. The proposed increase follows a rise of 3.42 per cent in last year's budget.
We have to maintain the existing services levels, we've got a few new things that we'd like to do, we support the community groups.
- Northern Midlands council mayor Mary Knowles
A number of external and internal factors were considered in preparing the 2019-20 document, the budget papers state.
These included external funding opportunities stemming from the federal budget and election, the continuation of the Roads to Recovery grant funding program, forecast TasWater distributions and new employee wage negotiations.
"We have to maintain the existing services levels," said Northern Midlands council mayor Mary Knowles. "We've got a few new things that we'd like to do, we support the community groups."
New initiatives in the budget include an extension of the Youth Activity Program, a new role to manage recreational facilities recently upgraded or soon to be completed, and an after school childcare program at Longford School.
While you're with us, you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates and daily headlines direct to your inbox. Sign up here.