Affordable Rates – State Government Report

MEDIA RELEASE
29 MARCH 2018
Somerset’s Affordable Rates – Effective Services Confirmed Again

A STATE Government report in March 2018 has confirmed that Somerset Regional Council’s average residential rates and charges for 2017/2018 are the cheapest in south east Queensland.

Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann hailed the report.

“This confirms what we already knew – average residential rates and charges in Esk, Fernvale, Kilcoy, Lowood and Toogoolawah are the cheapest in south east Queensland,” Cr Lehmann said.

“We know that household budgets are under strain and our point of difference with other areas is in our vision of affordable rates, effective services.
“Our philosophy has always been to find practical solutions for providing services and to look to revenue sources other than rates where possible.”
“Examples are our practical, low-cost approaches to areas such as our IT business systems and our approach to waste management which allows ratepayers to take control and responsibility over their waste and recycling.

“We are also acutely aware that, while they are improving, median household incomes in Somerset are lower than in many other places.

The report which was released on 27 March 2018 is available on the Department of Local Government website at http://localgovernment.qld.gov.au/resources-ilgp/plans-strategies-reports/local-government-comparative-reports.html.