By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
RATES in Casey will definitely rise by 6.3 per cent after council last night adopted its 2014-’15 Budget.
The 6.3 per cent rise to rates and waste charges was formally approved at special council meeting held on Tuesday night to adopt the $317 million Budget, from which $239 million will be allocated to council’s operating budget and the remaining $78 million to the capital works program, funding community infrastructure.
Major projects allocated money in the capital works program include the Edwin Flack Reserve Synthetic Athletics Track in Berwick, floodlighting at the Berwick Springs Reserve Junior Football Club, additional car parking at the Cranbourne Bowls Club, a redevelopment of the Cranbourne Basketball Centre and a $2.9 million investment in road improvements.
Council also resolved on Tuesday to reallocate $55,000 from councillor support activities to the problem solving team from Fountain Gate Secondary College, who recently placed second in the world championships in Iowa, and are currently raising funds to re-design the gardens surrounding the Robin Boyd fountain in their local area.
Casey Mayor Geoff Ablett this week described the Budget as “financially responsible”.
“In 2014-’15 the rates and waste charge for residential properties will increase by an average of 6.3 per cent, which equates to less than $2 per week,” he said.
“This is a financially responsible and sustainable budget that will assist council to deliver on its vision for Casey to be the city of choice to live, work and raise a family.”
The adoption of the Budget comes as council recently completed a general valuation of the 102,000 rateable properties in the municipality.
The new rating valuations are based on levels of value as of 1 January 2014 and will be used for rating purposes from 1 July 2014 until 30 June 2016.
All Victorian councils are required to undertake a valuation every two years.
For more information, visit www.casey.vic.gov.au/valuations or contact City of Casey Customer Service on 9705 5200.
