Input sought on budget

CAMPASPE Shire Council has invited the community to provide feedback on its $81.9 million proposed 2021-2022 budget.

The budget has been developed in line with the Victorian Government’s Fair Go Rates System, with rate revenue capped at 1.5 per cent.

Rate income accounts for about half of council’s revenue stream at 48 per cent and allows council to continue delivering more than 100 programs to the community every year.

Accounting for seven per cent of council revenue, waste charges will fund the collection of kerbside bins, paying the Victorian Government’s landfill levy, operation of transfer stations, monitoring of former landfills and collection of street litter bins.

Other revenue streams include grant programs (25 per cent), user fees (18 per cent), statutory fees and fines (two per cent) and interest from investments (one per cent).

The budget also supports a $28.4 million Capital Works Program for delivery of 78 projects, including $686,000 for road reconstruction on Fenaughty St, $670,000 for the replacement of the netball courts and cricket boundary net at the Kyabram Recreation Reserve, and $440,000 for the walking/cycling trail on Breen Ave.

“I am pleased to present this prudent and financially responsible draft budget to the community with an allocation of $57.5 million for service delivery and $28.4 million for capital works,” Mayor Chrissy Weller said.

“Amid the financial pressures of rate capping, rising costs of service delivery and the ongoing challenge of securing external revenue streams, it is pleasing that we have struck a budget that will maintain services at current levels and continue our comprehensive capital works program.

“In our quest to achieve financial sustainability for council in the longer term, our collective focus in preparing the proposed 2021-2022 budget has continued to be on finding cost savings where possible through an ongoing review of services and assets, and making improvements to productivity and efficiency.

“The result is a practical, ‘business as usual’ financial blueprint that will see council using its resources efficiently and effectively to deliver the best outcomes for the community as together, we recover from the negative financial impacts of the pandemic.

“Preparation of the annual budget is one of council’s most important strategic responsibilities. I encourage members of the community to review the proposed 2021-2022 budget and provide any feedback they would like council to consider prior to considering formal adoption of the budget in late June.”

The key dates for the budget submission, consideration and adoption process are as follows:

● Wednesday, April 7 — proposed budget released for public comment.

● Friday, May 14 — public submissions close. All submissions must be in writing.

● Wednesday, May 26 — hearing of submissions. Council staff will work with submitters who wish to speak to their submission, which may be via teleconferencing, depending on COVID restrictions of the day.

● Wednesday, June 16, 6 pm — Council meeting to consider adoption of budget.

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