Budget Adoption 2020-2021

At a Special Meeting held on 15 July 2020, the Carpentaria Shire Councillors adopted a budget that has a zero-percentage increase in rates and charges. Council identified the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on rate payers and residents and has held the rates and charges at the 2019-2020 levels for this period.

Council also identified the impacts of the forced closures on the Motels and Caravan Parks and has provided for a concession for those businesses within the differential rates categories 11, 15, 16, 17, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45. A new Policy “2020-2021 Rates Based Financial Assistance Policy – COVID-19” was adopted as part of the budget for 2020-2021 and businesses within these categories should avail themselves of this concession, where eligible.

Mayor Bawden said, “that despite the zero rate increase the budget will still deliver all of the Council’s regular services and a considerable capital works program.”

Council was very fortunate to receive $1,590,000.00 from the Queensland Government through the COVID Works 4 Queensland program and a further $711,924.00 from the Federal Government through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

The capital works budget consist of $18 million worth of projects across the asset classes of buildings $278,000, housing $60,000, other community infrastructure $3.8M, plant and equipment $1.4M, Roads $6.7M, water $5M and sewerage $755,000 with most of these projects funded from grants from the State and Federal Governments.

“As a small rural Council with a limited rate base, most of these projects would not be possible without the assistance Council receives from grant programs available to local government.” Mayor Bawden said.