Scenic Rim Regional Council handed down its 2026-27 budget, with a now familiar four-three split vote deciding the adoption of a 5.8 per cent average general rate rise.
A council spokesperson confirmed the average overall increase of rates and charges (infrastructure, waste, environmental and State charges for RFS and EML) is between eight to eleven per cent for a principal place of residence.
Councillors Jennifer Sanders, Kerri Cryer, Marshall Chalk and Duncan McInnes voted in favour of the budget with Amanda Hay, Stephen Moriarty and Mayor Tom Sharp against.
Households will feel the pinch once the increases come through, with Mayor Sharp citing council’s $94.7 million capital works program as a major reason for the increase.
The capital works program is partially funded from $49 million in State and Federal grants, however $27 million will be funded through general revenue this financial year.
Cr Stephen Moriarty said there were many reasons why he could not support the budget, but his budget speech concentrated on the inability of council to control spending.
“Firstly, there is a pattern of systemic failures within the organisation that have resulted in cost blow outs in a number of projects, none more obvious than the Gallery Walk carpark,” Cr Moriarty said.
“My question is simply, why should the ratepayer be asked to stump up again to cover the cost of this failure?”
Cr Moriarty added that council’s expenses consistently exceed revenue.
“While some within this council seem to think the way to address a structural deficit is to simply ‘put up rates’ it is quite obvious that while this approach might result in a small surplus in any given year, thus masking the problem, it in no way addresses the underlying issue.”
“Today I am drawing a line and saying ‘enough is enough.’
“Councillors are ultimately responsible for the performance of Council and make decisions that are in the public interest on behalf of the people we are elected to represent.
“A failure to address the structural deficit and systemic failures within the Council, is a failure to represent those who elected us.
“I will not be supporting the budget presented today.”
However, Cr Kerri Cryer disagreed, described it as a budget with a longer-term view.
“As Councillors, we are charged with the vitally important fiscal responsibility of making decisions that enhance the lifestyle of our communities while ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of our region,” she said.
“The rate for this budget has been determined to be the best possible given our current circumstances, to meet the challenges at hand, while delivering our much-needed services as well as build and maintain our infrastructure well into our Scenic Rim’s future.”
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