Logan budget: Ratepayers to be slugged extra $38 per year

Logan ratepayers will be slugged close to $40 extra a year but will gain some relief on water charges. 

The City's Council Treasurer, Cr Trevina Schwarz, handed down the 2018/19 budget at a special meeting this morning of councillors, lead by Acting Mayor Cr Cherie Dalley. 

Documents show a record $850 million spend, $304 million of that for water and sewerage services, $226.8 million on roads, drainage and engineering services. 

The cash splash is being boosted by a $38 annual increase in household rates, or 75 cents extra a week. 

"A 1.48% rate increase again under CPI for the second year in a row," Acting Mayor Cr Dalley told media after the meeting. 

"Gold Coast rates are 1.73 percent, Brisbane's 2.5 percent, Moreton Bay 2.89 percent and Tweed Shire 2.3 percent so when you consider ours is 1.48 percent it's a pretty good comparison and we're very happy." 

Council will however freeze its share of water and sewerage rates for the full 12 months. 

"75 percent of the water charges are the bulk water charge of the State Government, the 25 percent is Council's - we've frozen that for the second consecutive year," Cr Trevina Schwarz said. 

There's also a $12 million spend on transforming Logan into a world innovative hub. 

Plans to convert the old 1930s Kingston Butter Factory into and outdoor event space, as well as the South East's own "silicon valley" were also highlighted in the budget papers. 

"You'd love any of them the Googles the Facebooks and all that they'll be the subject of some fairly serious discussions down the track," Cr Laurie Smith told 9NEWS.

Today's budget was handed down amid political turmoil both Mayor Luke Smith and councillor Stacey McIntosh suspended, each facing corruption allegations. 

But whilst council admits the ongoing saga has been challenging, it hasn't been a told distraction. 

"You could allow it to distract you I didn't, we have a great budget here and I think we need to proceed on with  just getting on with our budget together," Acting Mayor Cr Dalley said.