At council’s May meeting on Wednesday, mayor Graeme Massey said council had decided to align with the suggested rate cap set by the state government’s Fair Go Rates System.

“We didn’t apply for a rate variation this year, so we will have to work within the rate cap that was set,” he said.

“It’s always difficult to balance what we take off our residents with what is received from the state and federal governments. 

“This Budget is balanced and means that we won’t go down the gurgler.

“I’m very much in favour of it and hopefully it will be received positively by the community.”

If the proposed Budget is passed, municipal charges will increase from $71.83 to $73.44 on all properties. Council will also maintain the rate differential provided to farmers, currently set at 23 per cent.

“This means that the farming rate will be 23 per cent less than the general rate for residential and commercial properties,” he said.

The kerbside collection charge will increase by 2.25 per cent and recycling charges will increase by eight per cent per service.

Cr Massey said this was due to an increased cost of disposing of recycling materials.

Council’s total operating budget for the 2018-19 financial year will be $23.586 million.

Of that total, $12.183 million will be generated from rates and charges, with the remainder predominantly derived from state and federal government grants.

Council’s acting chief executive officer James Magee said the proposed Budget also included details on a number of projects, including the allocation of $6.990 million towards capital works expenditure.

“Of that, $4.128 million has been allocated towards the renewal and upgrade of roads including sealed, gravel and dirt roads, of which council maintains in the vicinity of 5000kms,” he said.

Other major projects in the capital works program include a $300,000 upgrade at the Warracknabeal Transfer Station.

Hopetoun Aerodrome’s tarmac will get an upgrade worth $500,000 after council received a $250,000 grant from the federal government under the Remote Airstrip Upgrade Program.

A further $375,000 will be spent upgrading the Murtoa Swimming Pool change-rooms.

The 2018-19 Budget will also incorporate reconstruction works to key roads including reconstruction and widening of the Dimboola Minyip Road ($200,666), widening of the Hopetoun Yaapeet Road ($320,000), widening of Sea Lake Lascelles Road ($253,333), shoulder resheeting of the Minyip Dimboola Road ($302,666) and widening of the Minyip Banyena Road ($291,333).

Cr Massey said he was looking forward to hearing from the community regarding the draft Budget.

“After several months of deliberation, council is particularly confident that it has formulated a balanced budget that delivers on many of the strategies, considerations and priorities identified in the four year council plan,” he said. 

“Council had also taken a number of crucial external and internal influences and factors into consideration which will impact significantly on the services provided and delivered by Council, including escalating direct and in-direct general costs.”

Cr Massey said copies of the draft budget could be viewed at the Warracknabeal Shire Offices, and at Gateway BEET, Hopetoun.

The full budget document is available on council’s website.

Council will accept feedback until June 20.