Mayor Graeme Stirling said at the Ungarra electors’ meeting a strong case was put forward that rural ratepayers were being unfairly taxed, with a request for the council to review the rating method to which the council agreed.

With a budgeted total operating income of $4,153,650, the general rate revenue will yield $2,099,600 - $771,681 from townships and $1,328,580 from rural properties.

The 2008/09 budget was passed recently, with rates required to rise by more than the standard CPI of 4.2 per cent, according to Mr Stirling.

“Council has found that to continue to provide the current level of services, it must increase rates by 5 per cent,” he said.

“An increase in line with CPI would have been insufficient to meet the needs of the community.”

Mr Stirling said rising levies had forced rates up.

“The collection rate for a 140-litre refuse bin has gone up from $103 to $123, and the 240-litre bin from $180 to $210.

“The Tumby Bay oval rate paid by ratepayers in the Tumby Bay township and Hundred of Hutchinson has risen by CPI.

“Council has taken into account the request by the oval committee and representation made to the electors’ meeting and decided to review the rate next year, when water from the proposed upgrade of the Community Waste Water Management Scheme is available for use on the oval.”

The Community Waste Water Management Scheme rate has increased by $41.60 per unit to $393.60.

As well as road resheeting and maintenance, the budget will be spent on the new wastewater scheme being built on Pumpa Street at a cost of $861,100, along with opening up the extended Trezise Street as an industrial area.

The foreshore beautification project is on hold this year.