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Budget 2012/13 - Have Your SayA record capital works program, $770,000 in new initiatives and a 5.9 per cent increase in rates and charges were the centrepieces of the $79.8 million budget (PDF 268 kb) presented at the Bass Coast Shire Council meeting. By Bass Coast - 22nd June 2012 - Back to News Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Veronica Dowman, said the focus of the budget was to continue Council’s expansive capital works program including renewing, upgrading and constructing roads, drains, paths and buildings.
"Over the past three years, Council spent significant resources on these projects," said Cr Dowman.
"This is continuing in the 2012/13 financial year. We have committed to a capital works program of almost 100 projects, totally $25.5 million, which is the largest in the Shire’s history. We are one of the fastest growing municipalities in Victoria and we need to provide the infrastructure to deal with that."
The proposed budget recommends an increase in average rates and charges per property of $78 per year or 5.9 per cent.
"Setting the rate increase is a real balancing act for Council," said Cr Dowman.
"We understand that the current financial situation is a concern for people and that many of our ratepayers are on fixed incomes, so we have focused on keeping rates as affordable as possible given the demand for services and facilities. These considerations, along with a review of all services to increase efficiency, were part of the decision to set the increase at 5.9 per cent, rather than the 7.9 per cent outlined in our Strategic Resource Plan."
The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) recently released calculations showing that the cost of providing local government services would grow by 3.9 per cent in the next financial year.
"There have been calls for rate increases to be in line with the Consumer Price Index; however, this is not an accurate gauge of the cost pressures facing local government," explained Cr Dowman.
"The MAV cost increase indicator for Councils is only for delivering the same level of services and facilities as in the current year. We have set the increase in average rates and charges per property two per cent above the MAV cost indicator, to allow us to deliver additional, much needed capital works and new initiatives."
Rates and charges in Bass Coast remain very competitive when compared to those of other municipalities.
"The latest available information shows Bass Coast Shire has the fifteenth lowest average rates and charges per rateable property of the 79 municipalities in Victoria. Even with the proposed increase, the average rates and charges in Bass Coast are expected to be less than the large majority of other municipalities. We also have five years of comparison data for all the Gippsland Councils on our website," continued Cr Dowman.
"Bass Coast has had the second lowest average rates and charges increases in Gippsland every year since 2007."
The Proposed Budget (PDF 268 kb) will be on public exhibition from 27 June until 24 July, which means the community will have an opportunity to have input into the budget and provide feedback.
There will be copies available Customer Service Centres, local libraries and on Council’s website.
Submissions on the budget can be made in writing to the Chief Executive Officer by 5.00pm on Tuesday, 24 July 2012 and be addressed to: Bass Coast Shire Council, PO Box 118, Wonthaggi VIC 3995.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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