Story by Echonetdaily
Read Echonetdaily’s full story here
BYRON SHIRE Mayor Simon Richardson says the Shire needs to increase rates above what the State Government says they should be.
The Council says its Fit for the Future plan requires rates increases every year for the next three years; the question is only by how much.
In the next week, ratepayers will receive a catchy-titled booklet, Funding our Future, which will outline the three options: “Deteriorate” – 7.5 per cent, “Maintain” – 10 per cent and “Improve” – 12.5 per cent.
Each of the options includes the State Government’s estimated pegged rate increase of 2.5 per cent.
Third-world roads
With many of Byron Shire’s roads now at third-world standards, the council says only the highest option of 12.5 per cent would see any dramatic improvement in the state of infrastructure over the period.
For an average residential ratepayer, paying about $1,139 per year, this equates to an increase in the first year of $85 at 7.5 per cent, $114 at 10 per cent and $142 at 12.5 per cent.
The council would also borrow an additional $6 million over the four-year period to help reconstruct its failing bridge network.
Mayor Richardson said the various options had the potential to raise between $16.5 million and $28 million over the four-year period and this funding would go ‘straight into infrastructure.’