BULOKE Shire Council adopted its 2018-19 Budget at a special meeting last Wednesday with slight alterations.
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Council received 16 public submissions regarding the Budget, most of which were about the issue of farm rates.
Four Buloke shire residents spoke about their submissions at council’s regular meeting on June 13.
The Budget includes a 2 per cent rate rise, which is slightly below the rate cap of 2.25 per cent set by the Essential Services Commission.
Council made alterations to its farm rate differential to take into account the submissions it received from the community.
The farm rate differential was changed to 88 per cent, which was a 2 per cent decrease from what was budgeted at the draft stage.
This was an overall decrease of 10 per cent from the 98 per cent farm rate differential in 2017-18.
Following the community submissions it received, council will implement a Rating Strategy as a high priority to identify a fair way for the rate burden to be carried by the Buloke community.
Mayor David Pollard said he was positive about the Budget.
“Council was delighted to approve a really exciting Budget, with some inter-generational capital projects,” he said.
“It was developed through a rigorous process of consultation and review. Right throughout the process we worked in with the community and listened to their ideas on shaping the budget.”
He said he was pleased with the community consultation involved.
“Having 16 submissions speaks to the level of consultation and communication undertaken by council,” he said.
“The moving of the farm rate differential is testimony to council listening to its residents. We look forward now to delivering this budget in what is a very productive time for Buloke.”
The total value of the Budget is $32.9 million.
Financial allocations outlined in the Budget include $9 million spent on flood restoration works to repair damaged roads, $14.5 million for the capital works program, $1.9 million spent on tourism and $800,000 on upgrading lake facilities.
Council has also adopted its Year Two Action Plan as part of the implementation of its Council Plan 2017-2021. The Year Two plan has a focus on delivering programs following the feasibility, planning, strategy development and grant seeking of the previous year’s plan.