The Douglas Shire Council’s 2019/20 budget will take centre stage in an open meeting in Council Chambers on Tuesday and there will be much anticipation whether rates will be increased.

Based on what Mayor Julia Leu said in June last year – “there will always be rate rises” – one suspects Douglas rate payers will be hit again.

She added at the time: “While we would all prefer not to have rate rises, it is something we think carefully about and the impact it will have on the rate payers. I do, however, consider this modest (3.9%) and our residents will benefit from the investments we are making over the next 12 months.”

Since the 2014/15 financial year, the following rate increases have applied:

• 2014/15 = 5.2%
• 2015/16 = 3.9%
• 2016/17 = 3.9%
• 2017/18 = 3.9%
• 2018/19 = 3.9%

And following the rate increase in June last year, a Newsport reader pointed out the hike in residential utility charges since de-amalgamation:

• Sewerage - Up 22.6%
• Cleansing (garbage collection) - Up 31.9%
• Water Access Fee - Up 35.1%
• Water charge per kilolitre - Up 33.0%
• The cost of water for commercial properties is even higher at $1.56 per kilolitre.

There will be three meetings on Tuesday: the first an Ordinary Meeting; a Closed Session, followed by a Special Meeting where the 2019/20 budget will be brought down.

The ordinary and special meetings are open to the public.