Council backs down on rates rise

People power has had a win over the Burnie City Council, with the council dropping a proposed 6.88% rates rise in favour of a 5% rise.

The council, which is one of a few in the state which actually publishes details of its budget before it’s adopted, this year attracted considerable backlash on the proposed increase.

Councillor Amina Keygan successfully moved a motion to reduce the rise at the council’s monthly meeting for June earlier this week.

However, it’s come at a cost, with a planned $1.5 million playground at Shorewell put on the backburner due to the reduced rates income for the council from the lower adopted 5% rise.