Media Release - Budget 2018/2019

Mayor Keith Campbell will be presenting the 2018/19 budget at a Special Council Meeting to be held on Monday 25 June in which he will outline a budget that will deliver a small surplus in Council’s General Operations budget whilst maintaining a minimal rate increase for South Burnett Regional Council ratepayers.

With roads being the number one concern for the ratepayers of the South Burnett, Council’s budget will continue to address this matter over the next 12 months.  “Meeting the challenge of maintaining over 3,000km of road network within our region will always be difficult for smaller regional and rural Councils where there are simply not enough funds to provide all the services expected in our communities. This budget however attempts to address the funding issue for roadworks in a planned approach to bring this matter under control.” said Mayor Keith Campbell.

Despite the welcome injection of funding from State and Federal Governments over the last few years, Council continues to fund approximately 83% of its revenue from its own sources, which technically means the ratepayer. With 74.1% of the Council’s revenue coming from rates and charges, 8.9% from user fees and sundry income, 5.4% from Main Road contracts and private works, this leaves only 11.6% now coming from grants.