FIGURES published by the Director of Local Government demonstrate Brighton Council’s success in holding down rate increases to benefit ratepayers.

At the same time the Director’s comparison of council rates, published in the Rates Snapshot 2016-17 shows Brighton continues to provide the full range of local government services and the lowest possible cost.

Mayor Tony Foster said the results in the report vindicated the strong budget policy position held by Brighton Council for some 23 years where it had held rate increases down to at or below rises in the Consumer Price Index.

“Year on year in real terms, Council has operated with the same amount of rate revenue and we’ve taken account of the cost of living pressures on our ratepayers,” Cr Foster said.

“The results taken from the Director’s report are very telling, showing how a mid-sized council can hold its annual rate rise to CPI for 23 years and still achieve such positive results.”

In the comparative table of rates for all Tasmanian councils for 2016/17, Brighton Council was a standout in the average rate categories:
• Average rate per head of population
o Brighton ranked first with the lowest average rate per head of population at just $504, while the average for all Tasmanian councils was$1,018.
• Average rate per rateable property
o Brighton Council had second lowest average rate per property at $1,087 which was lower than all other councils except Central Highlands. The average for all Tasmanian councils was $1,516.

Cr Foster said councils were grouped under five council classifications, based on population size and density in accordance with the Australian Classification of Local Governments.

“Brighton is positioned in the urban small councils classification (population up to 30,000) comprising the following Tasmanian councils: Brighton, Burnie, Central Coast, Devonport and West Tamar and the report shows our clear leadership across all measurements.”

Average rate per Average rate per Operating cost
rateable property head of population per property

Brighton $1,087 $504 $1,864
Burnie $2,318 $1,169 $3,748
Central Coast $1,344 $666 $2,309
Devonport $2,223 $1,082 $3,135
West Tamar $1,453 $716 $1,940

“Brighton Council is extremely proud it had kept rate increases at or below the rise in the CPI for the past 23 years, with the Director of Local Government’s report clearly demonstrating that our residents enjoying the lowest per capita rates in Tasmania.

“Despite the ongoing pressures on local government, we are continuing this policy with our tow percent rate increase this year amounting to just $17 a year or a little over $1.40 a month for all residential households.

“Brighton’s strong financial management and operational efficiency, coupled with our commitment to shared services with other Councils and sales of its Microwise local government software, means our ratepayers continue to benefit from the full range of services at the lowest possible cost,” Cr Foster said.
Brighton Mayor Tony Foster