Cardinia proposes rate increase of 2.25%

Cardinia Shire Council’s draft budget for next financial year proposes a general rate increase of 2.25 per cent.

Almost $50 million will be for infrastructure works with major works including the completion of stage one of the Lang Lang community and recreation precinct at a cost of $4.7 million and construction of the Bunyip soccer stadium.

In an executive summary of the draft budget council says the low rate rise environment has led to a review of the services it delivers and the capital works program and to source alternative funding.

It stated that State and Federal governments’ funding of local government do not increase in line with real cost increases, citing as an example maternal and child health services where the level of payment for the State government does not reflect true costs.

Council also points out that local government raises only about three per cent of total taxes collected in Australia but has to maintain more than 30 per cent of public assets such as roads, bridges, footpaths, parks and public buildings.

It says the shire’s population growth would also continue to place significant stress on the council’s resources.

Cardinia’s draft budget is now on exhibition and open for public submissions.