A budget that helps business

MAYOR Bob Manning and the team at Cairns Regional Council have managed to provide a budget with a record capital works spend while keeping rate rises to the minimum.

Ratepayers will pay an extra $1 a week this financial year but they have been warned that in future years the rises will be higher to pay for the additional spending this year.

The council is forecasting a deficit of $1.9 million for 2019-20 with significant reduced revenue due to the financial impact of COVID-19.

A $3m deficit has also been predicted for 2020-21 – deemed a necessity in order to pay for a $181m capital works program and to keep rate rises in line with CPI at 1.8 per cent. A return to balanced budgets is not expected until 2022-23.

The $181m infrastructure program is designed to give the city’s economy a boost. It includes $43.5m on roads, bridges, drainage, kerb and channel, shoulder sealing and bus stops, $28.5m to improve the wastewater network, $32.7m on water and waste infrastructure,

$37m on community, sport, cultural and tourism projects and $28.7m for the Esplanade outdoor dining precinct, including Shields St to Abbott St.

In the next 12 months, the council will spend $396m in the community in goods and services to deliver its capital works and other projects.

Cr Manning said the budget considered, not only this financial year, or the next couple of years, but the long-term future of the city.

The council has responsibly provided a budget that will help businesses in the next financial year while keeping the rate rise to as low as possible for ratepayers.

Nick Dalton

Deputy editor