City of Launceston councillors have defended a decision that will likely increase the municipality's residential rates by 3.75 per cent.
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The 2022-2023 draft annual budget was presented at Thursday's meeting and passed in its current form to be viewed by the public to receive community feedback.
While councillors looked forward to community input, the rate rise was defended.
Councillor Ron Soward said he welcomed feedback from the residents of Launceston.
"I'm really happy when people come back to us with feedback, they don't just give us commentary but suggestions," he said.
"That's what I'm hoping this consultation process brings."
Councillors noted many people will have high concern over the rate rise.
Cr Soward added rate rises are needed to help provide services.
"When council offers services, those costs are borne by us," he said. Cr Soward pointed out that costs of many things have increased, like construction costs.
"Timber costs, metal components, fuel and transport costs have all increased," he said.
Councillor Hugh McKenzie agreed, pointing out the need for support for people living homeless which had been spoken about earlier in the meeting.
"Somehow we have to pay for these services," he said.
It did not go unacknowledged living costs have increased. Councillor Harris said Coles and Woolworths have raised costs 4 per cent in just one quarter.
"People are never happy about an increase, they should be happy it's not 16 per cent which we seem to be getting from our supermarkets," Cr Harris said.
Councillors pointed out how rates were frozen for the previous two years. Councillor Tim Walker said the rate rise was reasonable.
"Council is clawing back some of the ground that was lost because of a rate freeze," he said.
"We're paying more for things, we're all paying more for things."
The feedback will cover four documents; the annual plan, statutory estimates, the major operations projects, and capital projects for the next financial year.
These can be found on the City of Launceston's website, www.launceston.tas.gov.au.
Feedback will be open for two weeks until May 5.
Council will vote on the draft budget on Thursday, June 16.
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