Rates revised

THE City of Casey this week adopted its revised 2014-15 Budget which will see a reduction in the previously planned rate rise due to the Federal Government’s Carbon Tax repeal.
The council adopted the new Budget on Monday, with the predicted rate rise of 6.3 per cent now reduced by 0.4 per cent to 5.9 per cent, after the Commonwealth Government’s Carbon Tax repeal was initiated on 1 July.
The council’s plans to reduce the rate rise were reported by the News last month, with the City of Casey’s $78 million investment into community infrastructure, roads and parks unaffected by the change.
“Council is aware of the financial pressures facing residents and that’s why we revised the budget to allow savings to flow back to residents as quickly as possible,” Cr Amanda Stapledon said this week.
“Casey continues to have the second lowest rates per capita in outer metropolitan Melbourne.”
Mayor Geoff Ablett said Casey was one of the first Victorian councils to pass back savings from the Carbon Tax repeal.
He said ratepayers will now receive their rate notices in mid-September with the first instalment for payment rescheduled to 14 October.