A vote on rates at Tasmania’s Burnie council has exposed some strongly differing views. 

Residential rates in Burnie will increase by around 10.2 per cent after the council voted six to two to support a rise. 

Mayor Steve Kons and deputy mayor Giovanna Simpson voted against the rate rise, while the council’s general manager Simon Overland supported it. 

Mr Overland said higher rates are needed to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

Several factors were alleged to have contributed to the higher than average rate rise, including concerns about inflation and the ongoing financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The council consulted with the Burnie community,” he said.

“There were no significant concerns raised by the community with regard to the rates increase proposed.”

But the mayor denies there are any issues with the sustainability of the council’s budget.

Cr Kons said cost cutting is going well, and most of the deficits are from one-off expenses.

“Everyone just blindly accepted what the staff said. I certainly did a lot of research. It's an unfortunate circumstance that councillors' views are not considered worthy whereas the staff's are,” he said. 

“I am very comfortable that the council's finances are good moving into the future.

“To panic and throw the bath water out with a baby is certainly not the right approach.”