Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner handed down his Brisbane City Council 2022-23 budget on Wednesday,defending the 4.93 per cent average residential increase in the process.
Schrinner said it was below the rate of inflation and delivered in the context of cost pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic,February’s devastating floods,and rising costs associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The cost of bitumen,for example,had increased by 48.6 per cent.
“Our budget is sensible and affordable,” Schrinner said,pointing out that it was below Brisbane’s inflation rate of 6 per cent.
“Our budget guarantees Brisbane residents will get more and pay less than all the other south-east councils,even before most of them have released their budgets.”
Brisbane’s minimum residential rates bill will be $818.84. However,the average residential owner-occupier will pay about $1800 across the financial year,up from about $1730 in 2021-22.