Budget rates rise

CASEY council adopted its 2011-2012 budget on Tuesday which includes a rate rise of 5.95 per cent and a $63.5 million capital works budget for community infrastructure.
The initial advertised budget included an additional 0.86 per cent rate increase related to the financing cost of part of the $24 million contribution the State Government promised, but had not yet provided, towards the costs of remediation of the Stevensons Road Closed Landfill.
The council decided to fund the additional cost from the reserve it has set aside to meet future major project costs. City of Casey Mayor Shar Balmes said the budget was financially responsible.
“The decision was a good outcome for Casey’s residents, many of whom were doing it tough at the moment with rising interest rates and the costs of everyday living
“With this in mind, the council has maintained a focus on assisting residents to enhance the quality of their lives, and that of the community, through the delivery of more than 100 different services and a strong capital works program as part of a financially responsible and balanced budget,” Cr Balmes said.
Of the $262 million total budget, $198.1 million will be spent on delivering more than 100 different council services to the community and $63.5 million is allocated to the Capital Works Program to continue providing first class community facilities.
Cr Balmes said that in preparing the budget, the council was faced with many pressures including cost shifting, reduced funding, escalating costs and an increased waste levy.
“Taking into consideration these factors, the council has focused on keeping the rate increase below six per cent, while at the same time, ensuring we are financially sustainable to meet the needs of the rapidly-growing Casey community,” Cr Balmes said.
The City of Casey has to act as a collection agency for the State Government and collect the EPA’s landfill levy which has increased to $44 per tonne of waste this year, up from $30 per tonne last year.
Cr Balmes said she was very proud of the work the City of Casey is doing for its residents and she believed the budget would strengthen services and provide vital infrastructure for all parts the growing city.