Next week we will be handing down Rockhampton Council’s 2023/24 Budget.
This will set a path over the coming 12 months as we seek to invest in key local projects while setting ourselves up for the future.
A big component of our Budget this year is meeting the increasing costs of essential services and projects.
Costs like insurance, electricity, fuel, construction and materials which have all risen significantly over the last 12 months have affected our budget.
For instance, Council’s electricity costs are expected to increase by $1.2 million alone in 2023/24 while our insurance costs are expected to increase by over $1 million.
These are everyday essentials which we need to run our organisation and deliver for the community, but the size of increases we are seeing this year, coupled with continued reductions in our Financial Assistance Grants, create a real challenge.
How do we manage this?
We start by looking for our own savings and efficiencies, tightening our own belt while maintaining service delivery.
Then we focus on developing a budget that delivers the projects we know residents and the region needs while setting ourselves up for the future.
That means delivering road upgrades and maintenance, investing in our parks, gardens and community facilities as well as continuing to drive new jobs and industry.
All of these factors have to be carefully balanced as we manage cost increases, increases to rates and the investments we need to grow and thrive.
Councillors and I have put in many long hours of deliberation to hopefully find this balance and developed a Budget that not only delivers on present needs but also those of the future.
More information on Rockhampton Council’s 2023/24 Budget will be available on our website following the budget adoption on 4 July.
