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Bass Coast Budget Open To The Community

The Bass Coast Shire Council 2006-2007 Draft Budget was presented to the Council Meeting on Wednesday, 19 July 2006 and is open for public comment until 10 August 2006.

By Bass Coast Shire Council - 25th July 2006 - Back to News

Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Allan Bawden, said one of the key features of the budget is a rate rise of only 4.25 percent.

"Council has been very conscious of the need to keep rate increases to a minimum," said Mr Bawden.

"The community feeling on this issue is very strong, and for many Councillors, containing rate rises was a key election promise.

"Council has also abolished the $129 municipal charge," continued Mr Bawden.

"This will be an advantage for the majority of ratepayers, particularly those with lower valued properties."

Mr Bawden said the cornerstone of the new budget was an increase in spending on infrastructure and capital works.

"Earlier this year, a report to Council from our independent auditors clearly highlighted the need to increase spending in this area.

"In response to that report we developed a 10 Year Capital Works program, which has allowed us to predict how much money needs to be spent each year on our assets.

"It also allowed Council to calculate what the condition of those assets might be if funding was not increased," explained Mr Bawden.

"In light of this, the budget will fund a significant capital works program valued at $11.9 million."

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Neville Goodwin said the pressure placed on infrastructure by the growing population and large visitor numbers was enormous.

"Basically, our roads, footpaths, etc. are wearing out faster than we can renew them," said Cr Goodwin.

"If we don’t start to allocate serious money now to this issue, we are going to have some very big problems in the coming years."

Cr Goodwin said the increased spending in this area had been balanced by containing or reducing operational budgets and by seeking cost savings in non-essential services.

"The Council is very pleased that this budget has been able to address the need for increased spending in the capital works area, while still maintaining our current service levels," said Cr Goodwin.

"The Council has listened to what the community is saying and I believe that this budget responds to the community’s needs.

"It also deals with the impact our growing population has on the demand for Council services."

Key features of the budget include:

  • A proposed rate revenue increase of 4.25 percent, which will raise approximately $19 million;
  • An $11.9 million capital works program;
  • Over $630,000 toward new initiatives designed to improve facilities and services across the Shire;
  • Abolition of the $129 municipal charge, which the Council viewed as a regressive tax that impacts negatively on lower valued properties across the Shire;
  • A repayment of $1,465,000 in loans to reduce net debt by $465,000 over the financial year ($1 million loan is proposed to be used to fund part of the capital works program);
  • A proposed $44 increase in the garbage charge to $216 per year. This is mainly due to increased charges for collection and landfill operation costs, the development of a new transfer station on Phillip Island and a three-fold increase in State Government landfill levies; and
  • Keeping operating costs increases to a minimum, and in some instances reducing them.

Council’s budget is available to view at Council’s Customer Services Centres in Wonthaggi, Inverloch, Grantville, and Cowes and on Council’s website at www.basscoast.vic.gov.au.

A range of user-friendly fact sheets are also available, to help people to find out what the budget will mean for them and their local area.

Comments on the Plan must be made in writing to the Chief Executive Officer, Bass Coast Shire Council, PO Box 118, Wonthaggi VIC 3995 by Thursday, 10 August 2006. Please note that submissions may be made available to the public.

Council proposes to adopt the budget at the 16 August 2006 Council meeting, in which all submissions will be considered. The public is invited to attend.


Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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