Community has say on draft budget

THE Shire’s 2020/21 budget process has rolled on with a special council meeting held last week to hear what members of the community think of the municipality’s draft financial plan.

Out of the 23,120 people who live in the Shire, nine took part in the process, with four requesting to be heard during the meeting.

With COVID-19 access restrictions still ongoing, only councillors and some Shire officers were in council chambers for the meeting that was streamed on the internet, with residents who wanted to give feedback in person joining via video or phone call.

Shirewide issues raised by people who provided feedback on the budget included rates and the municipal charge, waste collection fees, senior Shire staff pay, councillor allowance rises, and financial hardship caused by COVID-19.

“In saying that we recognise there are concerns we also recognise the absolute dilemma that the council finds itself in,” said Inverleigh resident John Bolitho.

“Having said that, the draft budget seems to me to have been framed as business as usual and it did not to my mind… realistically address the hardship facing local communities.”

Other more specific issues that residents who took part in the feedback process raised included getting the Maude Recreation Reserve’s toilets on town water and the split of money spent on Bannockburn verses the rest of the Shire.

While regular council watcher and Batesford resident Cameron Steele advocated for more money to be set aside for that town in his written submission, like other speakers not increasing rates was the focus of his video presentation.

“There may be many residents who do not reach out and secure relief from the Shire but will undoubtedly be extremely grateful and assisted by a freeze on their rates,” he said.

“Golden Plains residents spent many years dealing with significant rate increases which really only curtailed due to rate capping. If there was ever a time to consider paying back strain inflicted on family budgets it would be now.”

Before councillors voted to put the budget out for community feedback in late-April, Shire officers made a series of cuts including $500,000 worth of maintenance and bringing forward $380,000 of planned works. That was in part to deal with an initial $3.4 million deficit.

In the current version of the fiscal plan there is projected underlying deficit of about $1.8 million next financial year.

Overall municipal rates are slated to rise by two per cent from 1 July, in line with the State government’s legislated cap.

The .5 pec cent reduction on the statewide rate cap from last year has resulted in $110,000 less income for Shire coffers.

During the April council meeting councillors did briefly address the not raising rates with Cr David Evans saying it would cost the municipality “$450,000” and that the Shire could become more “efficient and back off some of the services we don’t need” without specifying what those cuts could be.

Councillors will vote on the 2020/21 budget at the next regular meeting, set for Tuesday, 23 June.