Council
28 June, 2023
Somerset finances in top 17 of state
SOMERSET Regional Council is one of only 17 councils across Queensland to score top marks for its financial sustainability and management from the Queensland Audit Office (QAO).
The QAO’s report to Parliament showed Somerset scored green lights for all assessed categories including control environment and activities, monitoring, risk assessment, information and communication, timeliness, reporting quality and financial sustainability.
Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann said the report reflected Council’s practical approach to financial management and service provision.
“Somerset Regional Council strives to operate within its means and within ratepayers’ means,” Cr Lehmann said.
“We are pleased that QAO awarded Council a green light for financial sustainability even though we incurred a $4.7M operating loss last financial year following severe flooding.
“We have about 1,500km of constructed local roads with a smaller rate base than our neighbouring councils and it is vital that we manage what we have effectively for the long-term sustainability and prosperity of our region.
“We are open and transparent, and we take practical steps to safeguard public funds from waste and misuse and we have achieved the top financial management rating without having the multi-million dollar financial systems of other councils.
“Our consistently clean audit reports provide us with significant financial and governance credibility which is something that State and Federal Governments look for when awarding competitive grants to local communities.”
The QAO report is available at qao.qld.gov.au.
