Shire council approves draft budget

GOLDEN Plains Shire Council has approved their 2019-2020 draft budget.

The council is aiming to maintain and improve infrastructure and service quality and deliver community projects of value with the next financial year.

Golden Plains Shire Mayor, Cr Owen Sharkey, said the budget addresses concerns raised by shire residents over the last few years.

“This year’s draft budget is a strong financial plan to deliver the projects, services and infrastructure that supports what our residents and ratepayers have told us they want, need and deserve, now and for the future,” he said.

“In our rate-capped environment, council’s draft budget is a responsible plan that respects every dollar of ratepayers’ money, and it’s a fair budget that better balances the collection of rates and delivers the benefits across Golden Plains.

“We’re building more new projects than ever, and Council’s success attracting government funding grants means we’re able to redirect money and deliver more projects for the people of our shire, this year.”

2019’s largest council investment is $3 million to maintenance and renewal of extensive rural roads and bridges.

“In our large Shire, council maintains more than 1,744km of local roads across Golden Plains, as well as lobbying for government investment in much-needed transport infrastructure to safely serve the needs of our residents and travellers,” Cr Sharkey said.

“In this year’s draft budget and in direct response to what residents have told us they want, council has significantly increased its commitment to improving, resealing and resheeting local roads, and new infrastructure including bridge replacements, kerbs and channelling, and widening existing roads.”

Base rates for Golden Plains residents are set to rise in this budget from $225 to $300. Cr Sharkey said the state government’s rate collection system is “unfair” and that’s why council is more equitably distributing the “burden” of their rates.

“The Municipal Charge, which is the base rate paid by every household, will increase,” he said. “With the 2.5 percent rate cap locked in, council will not collect any more rates money by raising the Municipal Charge, it just means that less of the rates payment is subject to variations of house valuations, and that’s a small step in the right direction to make the rates system fairer for everyone.”

The draft budget is on public exhibition at Golden Plains Shire’s three Customer Service Centres and on the shire’s website.

“We encourage all residents to make a written submission and everyone is welcome to present their submission at the special budget meeting,” Cr Sharkey said.

“For the first time, council is also holding two budget drop-in sessions in May, one in the north of the Shire and one in the south, so people can come along and have their budget questions answered.

“We encourage all residents to get involved and have their say on this year’s draft budget.”

Visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au to read the draft budget or pick up a copy at the council Customer Service Centres in Bannockburn, Linton or Smythesdale.

The drop-in sessions will be at The Well, 19 Heales St, Smythesdale from 5pm to 7pm, Wednesday 8 May, and at Bannockburn Shire Hall, 12 High St, Bannockburn from 5pm to 7pm, Wednesday 15 May.

Written submissions can be lodged by 5pm, Monday, 27 May and sent to Director Corporate Services, Golden Plains Shire Council, PO Box 111, Bannockburn, VIC 3331, or via email at [email protected].

Council’s special budget meeting will be held at Bannockburn Shire Hall, 12 High St, at 6pm on Tuesday, 11 June.

The final 2019/20 budget will be considered at an ordinary council meeting in Linton on Tuesday 25 June.