WITH THE DUST SETTLED ON THE ELECTION, COAST MAYOR SAYS TIME TO FOCUS THE MIND ON VALUE FOR MONEY
The upcoming budget, CPI and cost-of-living pressures all weighing on the mind, as city runs ruler over its books and major must-have projects
THE federal election is now a week behind us and what I have learnt from that poll is that cost-of-living pressures had a huge bearing on the outcome.
The Gold Coast City Budget for 2022-23 is being shaped now, ready for delivery in mid-june.
In the past 10 years, we have worked tirelessly to ensure any annual rate increases have been capped at, or below, CPI.
I’m proud to say that through the hard work of all councillors and the administration, we have achieved that.
Every year since I was elected Mayor in 2012, no rate increase has been more than CPI. It would be a challenge for any other council in Australia to match, or better, that record.
Incredibly, before 2012, it was a regular occurrence to see rate increases in double-digit figures.
Keeping rates as low as possible is one thing, but it is equally important we don’t scrimp on frontline services.
Right now, City crews are repairing more than 1000 potholes across the coast. Repairing those potholes is as important to a resident as new barbecues, new playgrounds and new community centres.
People rightly expect quality services and we must continue to deliver those at a price they can afford.
This budget is proving one of the toughest
As the draft budget is being prepared, all councillors are being reminded that frontline services are key to ensuring we protect our lifestyle.
Savings must be found elsewhere and they are.
This budget is proving one of the toughest in my time as Mayor. CPI is on the march upwards, with some goods and services such as concrete, steel and even machinery parts spiking in excess of 20 per cent in the past six months.
Council’s near $2bn annual budget must be managed the same way we all manage our family budgets. That is, find savings wherever possible while still ensuring there is food on the table.
Similar to a family budget, we are facing huge costs pressures, so when it comes to building new facilities such as the $60m Palm Beach Aquatic Centre. We must ensure value-for-money throughout.
A key area I want to focus on in the years ahead is to keep encouraging affordable housing stock to come on to the market.
No council in the world can dictate the market’s forces of supply and demand, but we can ensure there is sufficient stock being built so new home buyers, down-sizers, new arrivals and retirees all have choice when it comes to the type of stock on the market, its location and its appeal to those market sectors.
Council’s role is to ensure builders and developers have confidence in a city’s future and we do that by providing certainty at the rates-base level, with each year’s budget.
I look forward to presenting my 11th budget as Mayor in June and I am confident we can continue our incredible low rates storybook for all residents.