COUNCIL fees and charges for services will rise by around 4.5 percent from the beginning of July.
Figures released prior to tomorrow’s Ipswich City Council budget show hourly paid parking will rise to $1.60, up from $1.40; an extra domestic wheelie bin collection will cost $24.80 a year, up $1; and registration of a desexed dog will cost $46 ($31 for pensioners), up $2.
Introductory dog registration fees will remain at a discounted rate of $20.
Finance and Governance Committee Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said the council understood people were suffering financially.
“Council is working hard to keep essential service delivery cost increases as low as possible,” Cr Tully said.
He said the increases reflected rising costs to council for essential service delivery.
“Just as households’ costs are up, it is costing council more to deliver essential services our community expects, to fuel its fleet and construct necessary community infrastructure to cater for our growing city,” Cr Tully said.
“The average increase to fees and charges is based on a forecast Council Cost Index (CCI), which tracks how much more it is costing councils to deliver services and shows costs for councils have continued to rise faster than CPI.
“While council understands any rise directly impacts household budgets, these rises are necessary to ensure service delivery keeps pace with community demand in our fast-growing city.
“Council has reviewed and reduced more than $16 million in its operational expenses over the past four years and is continuing to identify savings across a range of areas to lessen the burden on ratepayers.”
