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Latrobe City Draft Budget out for public consultationAt its Special Council Meeting on Tuesday, 15 June 2004 Latrobe City Council recommended that the 2004/05 draft budget be released for public consultation. By Latrobe Shire Council - 17th June 2004 - Back to News Latrobe City’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Mr Paul Buckley, said that key aspects of the budget included:
1. An overall increase of 7.8% in the Council’s general rates income, including an increase in the domestic garbage charge from $115 to $159, in line with the adoption of Council’s new waste management program.
2. The maintenance of existing service levels.
3. A $17m capital works program, to maintain existing and build new infrastructure, including the completion of Council’s new headquarters.
4. The ‘infrastructure gap’ (i.e. the shortfall between what Council needs to spend maintaining the optimum life of its assets and what it is actually spending) is narrowed to less than 5% by June 2008.
5. Continued debt reduction over the four year plan, even after new borrowings of $3.5 m for the new capital works planned. The budget projects a net borrowing position at 30 June 2005 of $13.7m, down to $8.4m by June 2008.
6. Key Projects for 2004/05 include:
- Development of Latrobe 2021 Strategy Plan.
- Preparation of a Heritage Study.
- Implementation of the Latrobe Economic Development Action Plan.
- Completion of Waterhole Creek and Narracan Creek/Moe drain flood study.
- Development of an Events and tourism Strategy.
- Implementation of Recreation and Leisure Strategy.
- Transition of staff to new headquarters.
"I am very pleased to say that Council’s Audit Committee considered the draft budget at its June meeting and resolved that it be recommended to Council for adoption," Mr Buckley said.
Mr Buckley reminded ratepayers that whilst the increase of 7.8% was to Council’s general rate income, some ratepayers will pay less than last year and others will pay more based on their property value. "Residential Properties in particular have seen an average valuation increase of 63% over the last two years," Mr Buckley said.
Mr Buckley said that the 2004/05 budget has been prepared on the basis of the current rating strategy. "The review of Council’s Rating Strategy has not been completed and will be continued in 2004/05, to include further consultation with a wide range of stakeholder groups in the community," he explained.
"The budget papers also provide details of Council’s four year financial plan that projects modest rate, fees and charges increases over the period, while achieving the further closure of the infrastructure gap and further reductions in borrowing levels," Mr Buckley concluded.
The 2004/05 draft budget will be available on the Council’s web site, www.latrobe.vic.gov.au from Thursday, 17 June 2004.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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