THE City of Greater Bendigo\u2019s proposed budget for the upcoming financial year will be evaluated at the next council meeting on Monday.<\/p>\n
Underpinned by a 3.5 per cent rate rise spread across the municipality, the plan also includes millions in borrowing and a $68 million capital works program.<\/p>\n
Unlike previous years, community feedback on the budget wasn\u2019t sought in the month leading to councillors\u2019 decision on the document, rather input on planning was undertaken late last year.<\/p>\n
Municipal director of corporate performance Jessica Howard said this year\u2019s budget is the \u201cmost challenging\u201d the City has had in a long time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are dealing with the same cost escalation challenges being experienced by many other organisations,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe City is acutely aware of the financial stress many households and businesses are under, and the budget funds many important projects and services the community relies upon.<\/p>\n
\u201cCity-led investments also help to invigorate the local economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor most local governments, the reality of operating under rate capping, with the cost of materials and services increasing, means there are many community projects that could not be funded in this budget.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe budget will be supported by a conservative amount of borrowings of up to $8.6 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cA prudent approach is necessary to avoid placing additional financial pressure on the organisation, with borrowings to fund significant capital projects where there is a demonstrated benefit to future generations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe budget focus has been on community priorities that enhance residents\u2019 everyday living, ensuring we see through financial commitments for multi-year capital works projects and continuing to deliver important services to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2023\/2024 budget has rates capped at 3.5 per cent, the maximum allowable under State Government rules, compared to last year\u2019s 1.75 per cent.<\/p>\n
Fees and charges are also going up.<\/p>\n
\u201cConsumer price index increases to fees have been applied across most city fees,\u201d Ms Howard said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese fee increases are not intended to make up lost revenue from previous years where fees were frozen due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but rather to reinstate annual increases.\u201d<\/p>\n
The budget includes a $68 million allocation to capital works for infrastructure such as roads and paths, and a $168 million operating budget for waste collection, streets, parks, and public facilities.<\/p>\n
Households will be charged an extra $27 annually for waste collection services.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs with previous years, council has not applied for a variation to the rate cap as it seeks to absorb increasing costs for supplies, goods, and services,\u201d the budget document preamble says.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis requires efficiencies to be made within operations to ensure services can continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cResidents will see a small rise in the general waste charge to cover increased costs of this service.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rise reflects the costs of providing the service; the City does not make a profit from waste services.\u201d<\/p>\n
With no feedback period available to the public on the budget this year, in line with changes to the state\u2019s Local Government Act, Ms Howard thanks those who took part in budgetary consultations in November last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to take this opportunity to thank residents for their time and effort to provide input and feedback at the start of the budget process,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe received a record number of priorities compared to previous years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were many great ideas and the overwhelming feedback from the community engagement was the importance of creating healthy liveable places and spaces in Greater Bendigo.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome priorities raised by residents during the engagement process were already taken into consideration as part of renewal and new capital works programs or earmarked as part of other potential projects in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE City of Greater Bendigo\u2019s proposed budget for the upcoming financial year will be evaluated at the next council meeting on Monday. Underpinned by a 3.5 per cent rate rise spread across the municipality, the plan also includes millions in borrowing and a $68 million capital works program. Unlike previous years, community feedback on the […]<\/p>\n