City releases proposed budget figures

THE City of Ballarat is seeking community feedback following the release of the 2021/22 draft budget, which includes a proposed one point five per cent State-capped rate increase.

For the upcoming financial year, the City has allocated $1.68 million to community infrastructure, $2 million to LED lighting upgrades, $1 million to business development and related feasibility assessment, $700,000 to CBD space activation including outdoor dining areas, $1.58 million to build and renew footpath networks, and $500,000 to new street trees.

A 14.75 per cent increase in waste charges will create an annual fee of $52.90, and upgrades to waste management have been allocated $4 million in the budget, including a new Ballarat Regional Landfill cell.

The city has a capital program budget of $130.9 million, including carry-over projects from the previous year, and CEO Evan King said the budget is about investing into local services and infrastructure, while “stimulating the economy,” with “significant” capital investment this year.

“There’s $39 million worth of both State and Federal Government funding… into the assets of the City of Ballarat, and that allows us to do much more. Council is investing $92 million of rate-payers’ funds into capital as well,” he said.

“We’ve undertaken a fair bit of consultation and engagement in the lead-up to the development of the budget, which isn’t the normal process.

“Through Ballarat Our Future, we did some upfront engagement. We want to continue engagement up front before we start preparing the budget, to get really clear direction from the community around what their priorities are.”

One million dollars of the budget have been directed to active transport, $800,000 is going to implementing the City’s Bicycle Strategy, including a better bike path network, rural roads are getting $2.2 million, while over two years, the redevelopment project at the central Ballarat Library has been allocated $6.9 million.

Mr King said the public expressed a “desire” to see the City invest in infrastructure, especially in spaces where people can participate in passive recreation away from traditional organised sport.

Addressing the rate rise, he said the municipality “doesn’t do that lightly.”

“We understand there’s many in our communities that find it hard to pay their living costs, but council does that knowing those funds will be directly put into the services and assets that we manage on behalf of the community,” Mr King said.

Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney encourages residents to have a look at the municipality’s first revenue and rating plan, which explores the City’s approach to raising revenue and rates over this four-year term.

Over the coming years, council will gradually reduce commercial and industrial businesses’ differentials.

“For the first time, it does show the staging of rates over the next few years, and gives businesses in the commercial and industrial sectors the opportunity to see how we will progressively change differentials,” he said.

“We’ve been criticised in the past for jumping around with rates… but broadly speaking, this plan gives us a really transparent approach to rates, and gives Evan and his team a chance to properly plan budgets.”

No financial borrowing is expected for the 2021-2022 year. The City of Ballarat continues to spend what’s left of $10 million borrowed during the 2019-2020 year.

The community consultation period ends on Monday, 7 June. Visit bit.ly/3tCTOA0 to give feedback.