JULIA Leu has promised any rate rise will be small and ‘responsible’ if she wins a second term as leader of the Douglas Shire.

The incumbent Mayor made the commitment in an assured performance at the Port Douglas Community Hall, saying a decision on a rate increase would only be made after capital works consideration and consultation with financial staff.

She said her team was on track to outperform last year’s budget that saw a 3.9 per cent increase, in line with the financial plan ticked off two years ago aimed at getting the Shire to surplus by the 2019-2020 financial year. This included a predicted 5.9 per cent rate rise in that period.

“I can give a commitment that (a rate rise) will be modest and reasonable, but it will be responsible,” Ms Leu said. “We do not want to end up like some council’s do when, frankly, they go broke because they have not catered for all the things that they need to spend and they have not looked forward.“

That is a dangerous thing to do and that’s what’s happened in the past. We want to make sure this council continues well into the future, and a key component of that is fiscal responsibility and sound financial management.”

Ms Leu answered the hot rate topic in front of 120 people at the second Candidate Election Forum, a night when fellow mayoral candidate Roy Weavers was also challenged.

She said the budget developed after winning office in 2013 looked at projected income, expenditure, depreciation, new projects and some ‘unexpected shocks that happen’.

“The good thing is we’ve been tracking so well against our budgets, and that’s because we’ve been doing an amazing job to make sure the way your money is spent is the most effective and of value to you.”

Weavers was questioned from the floor by Roisen Allen, on whether one of the main policy platforms he was campaigning on – better business engagement - was already being done.

In response, he said the Shire could not rely on state and federal funding coming in every year - from things like cyclone compensation – and that proper planning needed to be done to ensure ‘alternative revenue streams are solid and consistent.’

“I want to support local business and attract more private investment through a more understanding and encouraging approach by council,” Weavers said. We need more companies to invest in Douglas Shire to increase employment opportunities and ensure there’s a wide range of jobs for our kids.”

The last of the Candidate Election Forums will be held on March 15 from 5.30pm-7pm  at the Mossman Shire Hall.