Some key points:
- Residential rates to increase on average 3.45%
- Green waste bin cost reduced from $93.68 to $45 per year
- Surcharge on short-term accommodation (like AirBnB) rates fees to increase from 50% to 65%
That headline “$80m relief package” is relative to if they had increased rates equal to inflation, which is 7.4%. The difference there makes up $22m of the 80.
In my opinion the surcharge on short-term accommodation going up is great, but it’s nowhere near enough.
Argh…I hate all these ‘must go up because of inflation’ arguments, particular for services. Labour (wages) haven’t gone up anything like inflation. Its just a way to cushion the increases.
When I’m discussing salary raises, I make a point of emphasising that anything less than inflation is a pay cut. I refuse to mince words. If inflation is over 7% and you’re offering me a 3% pay raise, you are giving me a 4% pay cut. And I will make sure to be very clear about that in all my communications with my employer and my coworkers.