Community & Business
23 July, 2023
3% rate rise for Cook Shire
COOKTOWN ratepayers will fork out an extra three per cent in rates after the Cooktown Shire Council brought down its budget recently.
COOKTOWN ratepayers will fork out an extra three per cent in rates after the Cooktown Shire Council brought down its budget recently.
Mayor Peter Scott said council had been acutely aware of the higher cost of living when it considered the $97.8 million Budget for 2023-24.
“Council is very conscious of the current cost of living pressures and has worked hard to ensure a responsible budget that continues to deliver essential services to a high standard, while reducing costs wherever possible,” he said.
“The $100 discount for prompt rates payments will remain and council has also kept interest on overdue rates the same as last financial year, instead of raising it around three per cent in line with legislation.
“Council has a difficult task in delivering services at the current level, or better, with a limited rate base, while keeping those rates and other fees as low as possible.
“To do this, council officers have worked extremely hard to manage ongoing costs and identify efficiencies to ensure costs are kept to a minimum.”
Mayor Scott also announced a $21.7 million capital works program as part of the budget, but $20.9 million of projects have been carried over from last year.
He said council would contribute $744,000 towards new capital projects including $44,000 for repairs to the Coen Water Treatment Plant building; $120,000 to replace pipework and valves at the Cooktown Sewerage Treatment Plant; $200,000 for shovel ready projects; $300,000 for the fleet replacement program; and $80,000 for power improvements at Lions Park.
The budget includes $72.2 million in State and Federal grants to deliver projects.
The operational budget includes $55 million for ongoing maintenance to roads, footpaths, drainage, and public works; $7.7 million to provide water, sewerage and waste services; $3.1 million for community lifestyle projects (pools, libraries, parks and community facilities); $200,000 to develop an accurate mapping system of council’s water and wastewater network to support effective response times; and a $30,000 grant program to encourage investment in business security upgrades, such as CCTV.
Also on the list is a $30,000 grant program for innovative and environmentally sustainable projects, $20,000 to subsidise the cost of dog de-sexing for Cooktown residents; $20,000 for an economic development portal for those wanting to invest in Cook Shire; $10,000 to implement Reconciliation Action Plan initiatives; and $10,000 to support initiatives of the Cook Shire Youth Council.
