Community & Business
7 July, 2024
TRC rate rises exceed CPI...again!
With the release of its 2024-25 Budget last week, Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC), has again laid bare its apparent inability to take into account the cost of living increases that face ratepayers - with an increase of 10 per cent in the general rate for smaller towns such as Clifton, Nobby and Wyreema - double the average 5 per cent increase for Toowoomba ratepayers and well above C.P.I.
The latest data indicates that the annual C.P.I. at the end of May was 4 per cent.
The Regional Council has a poor record when it comes to keeping inflation in mind when framing rate rises.
Since amalgamation in 2008, there have been very few financial years when the increase in the general rate was less than the annual inflation figure at the time.
For 2024-25, TRC estimates that the average land value across towns such as Clifton, Nobby and Wyreema is $124,561.
On average, ratepayers would have paid $935 in 2023/24.
The amount they will pay in 2024/25 will be $1,028.
TRC said this equals a dollar increase of $93, a 10 per cent increase.
While in dollar terms, this is not great, the fact that Toowoomba ratepayers have a lower percentage increase has stirred up the old “they don’t care about anything outside Toowoomba” argument.
Charges for water from town supplies will also increase for the coming year.
The infrastructure charge residents paid in 2023/24 in centres such as Clifton, Nobby and Cambooya would have been $431.
The infrastructure charge for 2024/25 will be $470.
This equals a dollar increase of $40 and a percentage increase of 9.27%.
Cost and percentages include the on-time payment discount.
Based on a comparison water use of 182kL the water consumption charge in 2023/24 would have been $372 whereas the water consumption charge in 2024/25 will be $411, which equals a dollar increase of $39 and a percentage increase of 10.62%.
For dwellings within a waste collection area across the Region, the waste collection service charge for a 240L general waste bin and a 240L recycling bin in 2023/24 was $293.
In 2024/25 it has changed to $307, which equals a dollar increase of under $15 and a percentage increase of 5.00%.
For properties within a wastewater service area, the wastewater charge in 2023/24 was $502, and in 2024/25 this has changed to $532.
This equals a dollar increase of under $30 and a percentage increase of 5.95%.
For the small number of properties in Cambooya on a Common Effluent Disposal system, the wastewater charge in 2023/24 was $251.
In 2024/25 this has changed to $266.
This equals a dollar increase of under $15 and a percentage increase of 5.95%.
A new levy to apply to all ratepayers across the Toowoomba Region in 2024/25 is the Public Transport Levy.
TRC says it has been introduced taking into consideration community feedback over many years and will give Council greater leverage in advocating to the State Government on improvements that are much needed to the Region’s public transport network.
This levy is set at $39.80.
The Environmental Levy has been replaced with a “Waste Facilities and Landfill Rehabilitation Levy..
This levy funds planning, delivery and improvement of new and existing waste management facilities and the rehabilitation of closed landfill sites.
The Environmental Levy was $73.
The new Levy is set at $77.
