MAYOR’S RATE FREEZE PUSH
EXCLUSIVE For years the mayor has put forward a budget with an aim to cut rates. Will he get it through this time?
TYSON Golder has expressed his confidence in this year’s Maranoa Regional Council budget proposal, which again pitches rates relief for residents and businesses.
Council is yet to set a date for the budget vote, but is expected to discuss Cr Golder’s version in the coming weeks as the July 31 deadline looms.
A RATES freeze is at the top of mayor Tyson Golder’s wish list, as he prepares his 2019/2020 budget which is expected to split council opinion for a third year in a row.
Cr Golder’s draft budget will be met with anticipation from colleagues who have voted down his previous two budgets.
Cr Golder said he has brought back the same rates policies for businesses, should his 2019 budget make it through the other councillors.
As seen in Cr Golder’s draft budgets over the years, there’s once again a push to cut rates. “My main focus is rates relief for residents of the Maranoa and I believe the effects will flow on into better economic times,” Cr Golder said.
“Another thing is to reduce commercial and industrial rates in town, to put them in line with rural rates, so whether someone is running a business on the land or a business in town, it will be all on the same rate.
“That is crucial for growing the region.” A date has not yet been set for this year’s budget discussions but the council is required to finalise a budget by July 31.
In previous years, Cr Golder’s budget proposals have split opinion in the council, to the point where in 2017 councillors passed a motion to ask the Local Government Association of Queensland to restrict mayoral budget responsibilities.
Cr Golder said he wants to chip away at the council’s debt.
“I want to focus on paying off more debt and having an operational surplus.”