Following a public consultation period, Councillors will next week consider the endorsement of the City of Launceston's proposed 2024/25 Annual Budget.
The Council is on track to meet its post-Covid target of being debt free by the end of 2024/25, and expects to return surplus in 2025/26.
The proposed 2024/25 budget seeks to invest in the city's roads, parks, footpaths and community facilities, while balancing cost-of-living pressures being felt by residents.
It includes the funding of a $26 million capital works program alongside the continued delivery of essential services to the community.
Capital projects proposed in the budget include:
● $1 million for the restoration of City Park's popular St John Hart Conservatory
● $300,000 for upgrades at the Royal Park Skate Park
● $1.4 million for the second stage of restoration works on the Cataract Gorge's Alexandra Suspension Bridge
● $700,000 for the NTCA master plan redevelopment project
● $4.8 million for road resealing
● $1.9 million for improvements to parks and play spaces
● $600,000 for footpath renewals and;
● $1 million Northern Gateway project to welcome visitors to the city (State Government grant).
The City of Launceston's 2024/25 Annual Budget is based on a general 4.5 per cent increase to rates, equating to an average increase of $1.15 per week for a median residential home in the municipality. This may translate to a higher or lower figure depending on individual properties due to property revaluations.
City of Launceston Mayor Matthew Garwood said the Council was seeking to deliver a balanced budget with an underlying deficit of just 0.4 per cent of total revenue.
"Our goal with the proposed budget is to keep any increases to a minimum, given the cost of living pressures being felt by many in our community," Mayor Garwood said.
"We've worked the numbers really hard this year to shield our community where possible. For example, we've been able to ensure there is no increase to the waste management component of people's rates this year, thanks to some savings we've made in other areas.
"We're trying to deliver a budget that is fair and community-minded, and allows our Council to continue to provide a very high standard of services and facilities to our community.
"It's also really important that people understand we have a number of flexible payment options and other hardship assistance in place, and we'd urge anyone who is doing it tough to contact our Customer Service team to discuss their options."
Mayor Garwood thanked residents, businesses and organisations who made submissions during the consultation process for their valuable feedback.
