Budget provides fees and charges relief in cost of living crisis
22 June 2023
Fees and charges for Ipswich City Council services across 2023-2024 will remain well below the forecast CPI as council works to manage the impacts of the national cost of living crisis on Ipswich residents.
Governance and Transparency Committee Chairperson Councillor Jacob Madsen said the average increase to cost recovery fees for council’s 2023-2024 Budget was just 4.7 per cent.
“This is well below the likely CPI forecast of 6.5 to 7 per cent and will help keep basic fees such as waste services affordable for residents,” Cr Madsen said.
Council is set to release its 2023-2024 Budget on June 22, with the fees and charges approved by full council in April.
“Council is in the final stages of preparing this year’s Budget, in the face of burgeoning costs for infrastructure, construction and basic services,” Cr Madsen said.
“The daily challenges faced by our residents, from the supermarket checkout to the petrol bowser, have been front of mind as we worked on this budget.
“Keeping the fees for our basic services as low as possible is one way council has sought to help ease pressure on residents this year.”
Gate fees for council’s two recycling and refuse centres at Riverview and Rosewood have remained at $14 for the first 500kg, with no increase this year.
The increasingly popular Food Organics Garden Organics bin service for tenants also remains at $80 annually.
Fees for venue hire across the city also remain largely unchanged, including for the Ipswich Civic Centre, allowing residents affordable access to high quality hire venues.
Cr Madsen said alongside the limited changes to fees and charges for 2023-2024, council would continue its discounts for prompt rates payments, and rates remissions for pensioners.
“Cost of living is a challenge across the board, and council is committed to supporting residents in managing the challenges we all face,” Cr Madsen said.
“This year’s budget will be responsible, careful and effective in how we use ratepayer money to support every Ipswich resident through these challenging times.”