Mayor Teresa Millwood took to the stage in front of 700 delegates in Canberra to tackle the issue of a 'fair share' for councils by providing relief to ratepayers through commensurate financial support from state and federal governments. She joined fellow councillors at the 2024 National General Assembly of Local Government in a panel discussion about the 'Cost Shifting Crisis'.
"For local governments to be able to provide livability for our communities we need to be sustainably funded by the federal government and we need to be able to provide a safe living space for our communities," Mayor Millwood said.
"In the Cassowary Coast approximately 46% of our region is state land which we are unable to rate and therefore our rates are exorbitant and our small ratepayer base is suffering the burden.
"How, when councils deliver 33% of services do we receive so little?
"We are trying to promote our region in order to build our ratepayer base but people are saying that our region is the most beautiful but so expensive.
"If you want to see thriving rural communities we need to address the financial pressures that we are experiencing, especially the way we are forced to depreciate in our assets.
"We do appreciate the assistance we receive, every single dollar but I feel we need more resources and financial support and a change in reporting methods is critical if we are to survive.
"This cost shifting comes in the form of rate rises given this is our main source of revenue."
Read Mayor Millwood's speech that she delivered at the conference here:
https://www.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/.../mayor-s-speech…
