By Sheree Hoddinett
Are you in the lucky list of winners or feeling the pinch as an unlucky loser? As we wind down to the end of another financial year, it’s the fun of budget time, with the state budget released on June 11 and our local council budget hitting the streets on June 14. Both budgets had a focus on relieving the cost-of-living pressures for families.
So, what did they each have in store for us?
The City of Moreton Bay record $922 million budget was all about alleviating everyday cost pressures alongside a strong commitment to laying sustainable foundations for the future. The council budget is allocating support towards rates with a concession worth $6 million applying to residents in the following categories:
Single Residential Owner Occupied/Single Household - R1
Units Owner Occupied - U1O, U2O, U3O, U4O, U5O and U6O
Retirement Villages - RV1.
An extra $1 million is also going towards support initiatives for small business and the local rural/agribusiness sector. The financial relief rates concession and business support initiative, will be fully funded through the partial use of Council’s Australian Carbon Credit Units, generated from the capture of methane gas at our landfill sites.
A rates increase will also be minimal (with the concession applied), the average total rates rise (general rates and levies) for an owner-occupied residential property is 3.8%, which equates to just $1.35 per week or $70.21 a year. When the garden organics service is introduced in December, the total average residential rate rise equates to $2.10 per week or $109.29 per year.
Some other highlights include:
$51.6 million will be spent on 253 road rehabilitation and resurfacing areas.
$29.6 million will go towards waterways and coastal areas.
$16.8 million for sport and recreation projects.
For a full local budget rundown, visit https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Services/Reports-Policies/Budget/2024-25
Now to the state budget fun. Queensland is forecast to record a deficit of $2.6 billion with more than $11 billion going towards cost of living.
If you catch public transport, you’re a winner with train, bus, ferry and rail fares to drop to 50 cents for a six-month trial which kicks off in August.
The government is also increasing the threshold for first home buyer stamp duty concessions by $200,000 to properties valued under $700,000.
We already know we’re getting $1000 off our electricity. It might make a slight dent in some bills!
There’s good news for drivers, 20% will be knocked off rego payments for Queenslanders for 12 months, saving more than $100 per motorist. Under the changes, a 12-month registration bill for a private-use four-cylinder vehicle will be reduced by almost $85, bringing registration fees down to $338.75, excluding CTP. For vehicles registered on a pensioner concession, the reduction will be nearly $50 – bringing down the total to $194.50, excluding CTP.
Amid concern about crime in Queensland, the government is spending more than $1.2 billion on community safety initiatives.
There’s also some great news for the sporty kids out there. Families are getting a $200 voucher for every child aged between five and 17 years to participate in junior sport at a cost of $40 million.
The budget includes $26.7 billion for Queensland Health in the 2024-25 financial year.
It looks like schools are big on the winners list! Education will see thousands of additional teaching support staff hired and more professional resources allocated.
$15m in funding for the School and Community Food Relief Program.
$4.9m over two years (2024-25 to 2025-26) to continue to deliver the Homework Centre program in schools.
$21m over four years for the Department of Education to continue the GPs in Schools Program.
$65.5m over three years for additional projects under the Playgrounds and Tuckshops Program.
To find out more about the state budget, visit https://budget.qld.gov.au/.
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