Following an extensive development and public consultation process, Murrindindi Shire Council formally adopted its 2018/19 Budget last Wednesday, June 27.
“All submissions were tabled at the Special Meeting of Council on Wednesday, June 13 and considered by Council prior to the adoption of the final budget,” Cr Bisset said.
“We were really pleased to be able to incorporate into the 2018/19 Budget, some of the great ideas put forward by the community through the budget submissions process.
Several of those ideas will be addressed through Council’s normal maintenance and operations in the upcoming year. Others will require Council officers to undertake more investigation and consultation before the suggestions can be considered by Council in the future.
“One submission Council placed priority on was from Flowerdale Sports Club to improve the conditions of the change rooms and toilet facilities at the Spring Valley Recreation Reserve. To support the Club’s grant application to the Victorian Government, Council approved an allocation of $30,000 toward the project. Happily, we were able to achieve this without any change to our Budget’s bottom line.
“As indicated in the Draft Budget, the impact of changes in the international recycling market are being felt by local governments across Australia. The changing market has caused an increase in the costs associated with the delivery of recycled waste services across the nation. Negotiations with Council’s recycling services contractor have been ongoing, and since the Draft Budget was originally placed on public exhibition in April there have been significant developments
As highlighted in the Draft Budget, any increase in costs associated with recycling services need to be funded through an increase in the waste service charge paid by ratepayers. To ensure the continuity of this service, it has been necessary to increase the recycling collection charge for 2018/19 by an additional $21 per recycling bin per annum. That works out to 40 cents per bin per week.
“Overall, the Budget for 2018/19 demonstrates Council’s financially responsible approach to managing its resources and continuing to deliver services to meet the needs of the community.
“We are very pleased to be one of only a few councils in the State offering a rate increase below the rate cap for 2018/19. Also, as no new debt will be taken on, you will see a reduction in Council’s total borrowings to less than $700,000 by June 30 2019.
“Council is looking forward to seeing the positive outcomes for service and infrastructure provisions that this budget can deliver to the people of Murrindindi Shire,” Cr Bisset added.
Download a copy of the Budget at www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au/budget2018-19.
