Rates rise ‘one of the lowest’

By Kelly Yates
RESIDENTS can have their say on Casey Council’s $198 million 2009/10 draft budget.
The draft budget includes $44 million in infrastructure projects and $154 million for service delivery, including depreciation of assets.
This year’s proposed rate increase is 4.7 per cent and according to mayor Geoff Ablett, Casey ratepayers will continue to pay one of the lowest rates of Melbourne’s 31 municipalities.
City of Casey mayor Geoff Ablett said councillors had worked with council officers over the past four months to develop a financially responsive and forward-looking budget that not only delivered first-rate services and facilities but that would also keep rates low.
“While there are many new initiatives in a range of service areas such as sport and leisure, the arts, community development, community safety, economic development and services for youth, families, children and older people, we have also achieved 3.5 per cent efficiency savings in the operating budget,” he said.
“This means that we will make more effective use of our resources without compromising on the high standard of our service delivery.”
The draft budget will be on public exhibition until 18 June.
During this period copies of the draft document will be available for inspection at the City of Casey customer service centres at Narre Warren, Narre Warren South and Cranbourne.
Written submissions under Section 223 of the Local Government Act 1989 on any proposal contained within the draft budget should be addressed to the CEO at the City of Casey, PO Box 1000, Narre Warren, 3805; or emailed to caseycc@casey.vic.gov.au by close of business on 18 June.