Largest ever budget delivers a fair, responsible deal

Mayor Peter Taylor said the 2011/2012 budget combined fairness and responsibility at a time when economic pressures and natural disasters had handed us almost unprecedented challenges.

"The average increase in the general rate has been kept to 4.8% while the overall increase in rates and charges has been limited to 5.8% - largely due to the State Government's introduction of a new waste levy," he said.

"Compliance with new State Government legislation governing refuse tip management requires council to make significant capital investment in its existing facilities. Funding for this investment will be met through increased waste charges across various sites throughout the region.

"The events of December and January are still in our day to day thoughts, and the damage wreaked throughout the region has left many scars that are yet to heal. This year's $248 million Operating Budget, combined with the $364.5 million Capital Spend – and its focus on flood recovery and capital works – sees council strive to repair what was devastated eight months ago, as well as complete those projects already identified as necessary for the future growth of the region," the Mayor said.

"The recovery program alone totals almost $100 million to be delivered over the next two years – the challenge in this is to build an affordable capital budget that is within council's capacity to deliver. Essentially, we must prioritise flood recovery and vital capacity building while continuing to maintain and upgrade essential infrastructure and facilities.

"This budget also introduces a change to the balance between access and usage charges with water; placing greater emphasis on water usage and less emphasis on water access.

"After four years of effort, this budget also delivers the single rating system across the previous eight councils comprising the Toowoomba Regional Council. This unification of rates represents a step forward for the region after much deliberation and assessment."

Our region stretches across almost 13,000 square kilometres, with a population in excess of 160,000 people. The Toowoomba Regional Council owns and operates more than $3 billion of assets throughout this region, employing more than 1,600 staff to provide essential services and maintenance to residents and ratepayers seven days a week, 365 days a year.

"With more than half a billion dollars worth of investment in this region's future, this 2011/2012 budget presents a vision – a blueprint for a progressive region that holds incredible promise as a truly desirable place to live, work and play, " Mayor Taylor said.