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Page Last Updated:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 |
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| Council Plan and Budget Approved | |
| Council Plan and Budget Approved
Wellington Shire Council has approved its 2009/10 budget and Council Plan following public consultation on both documents.
“There was significant public input this year with three rounds of consultation,” said Cr Darren McCubbin, Mayor of Wellington Shire Council.
The Council Plan outlines the direction for Wellington Shire Council for the next four years. The budget details income and expenditure for the next 12 months.
Total Council expenditure on services and new works for the coming year will be $66.6 million. Of this $34.7 million will be raised from general rates. Most of the rest will come from grants from the state and federal governments.
The Mayor said that Council had considered submissions and Community Plans from the Community Representative Groups (CRGs), individual submissions prior to framing the draft budget and plan, and public submissions on the publicised draft budget.
“The opportunity for community input was great and we really appreciated the efforts of those that took the time to give us their proposals,” said Cr McCubbin.
Feedback provided by local residents has been instrumental in determining the works priorities for Wellington Shire Council for 2009/2010.
Some $26.1 million of road, bridge and other works have been included in the budget adopted today.
To meet the works and services commitment Council capped the rates increase at 6.95% on the general charge this year.
“However this is not the full story,” said the Mayor.
“Because we have made other savings the real increase in the amount people will actually pay only averages $11 per resident.
“We have the third lowest increase in the state,” said Cr McCubbin.
The Mayor said that figures show that the average rise in rates and charges across all Councils in Victoria is $30 per resident.
“We are well below this state average,” said Cr McCubbin.
The Mayor noted that the major challenge for Council has been to balance the constraints of the current global financial situation with the need to service the community and to maintain an environment that continues to support employment.
“We believe that we have been able to achieve this balance,” said Cr McCubbin.
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