BRC 26-27 Budget Meeting (Take 2)

Gagged!

Well, what a farce today’s continuation of the adjourned Budget meeting was. For a Mayor who campaigned on accountability and transparency, there certainly wasn’t much of that on display today.

Councillors including myself were not allowed to speak against the budget and were shut down by the Mayor. The Mayor’s actions today contradict Councils own Standing Orders for Council Meetings Policy.

When I bought this to the attention of the Mayor, she refused to accept that she was wrong and would not seek advice from the CEO like I requested and threatened that if I persisted that I would be thrown out of the meeting.

So with Councillors gagged and silenced the Budget was passed 6 for 5 against.

It is a sad day for our region when democracy is suppressed, and our ratepayers are the ones that end up paying for it.

Adoption of the budget today will see increases in rates for the 2026-2027 financial year as per the following categories:

2026-2027 Budget

Principal Place of Residence (PPOR) + 8.28%

Non Principal Place of Residence (NPPR) + 18.0%

Short Term Holiday Rental (STHR) + 24.85%

Agriculture + 8.20%

Bundaberg Commercial + 13.20%

Other Commercial (areas outside Bundaberg) + 13.20%

Industrial + 13.20

Lifestyle/retirement/Rv + 23.67%

The Total 3 Year Average General Rate Increases 2024-2027 paint an even grimmer picture and can be found on my notes below and the meeting can also be viewed by clicking on the following meeting screenshot to follow to the link (meeting starts at 5:40 into the recording)

I would like to thank Cr John Learmonth, Cr Bill Trevor, Cr Tracey McPhee, and Cr May Mitchell for their support during what has been a trying time, and for their fortitude in standing up for what is right. Unfortunately, we did not win this battle.

Regards

Jason.

CLICK ON PICTURE ABOVE FOR LINK TO MEETING RECORDING 9/6/26 Special Budget Meeting Continuation