Rates and the cost of living

I have been a strong advocate for keeping rates as low as possible for the last term. The last three consecutive rate rate rises in Logan have been lower than the inflation and they’ve been the lowest increases of any Council in Queensland.

2017/18: 1.7% (CPI of 1.8%)
2018/19: 1.48% (CPI of 1.7%)
2019/20: 1.49% (CPI of 1.5%)

In the 2017/18 budget I called on a more rigorous budget process so Councillors could have adequate time to consider what was best for the current and future residents of the city. The public pressure I applied at the time brought about reforms that greatly improved the budget processes in the subsequent years.

Had we not gone into Administration in May 2019 I would have pushed for a much lower rate increased than the Interim Administrator slugged residents with. I know that families doing it tough due to low wages growth and under employment and I feel that a 1% increase would have been sustainable. I’m just disappointed the Interim Administrator didn’t do more to keep rates increases as low as possible.