Please note: this is an archived news article release

This article was published on Thursday, 23 June, 2016. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Municipal budget approved at council meeting

The Princess Park Master Plan received $25,000 from the operating budget; disability access at Deakin Reserve received $30,000 in the capital budget; and $25,000 was also allocated from the capital budget for a shelter structure at the southern end of Victoria Park Lake.

CLICK HERE to read the Mayor's Budget Presentation address.

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor Dinny Adem said he was very pleased to see so much valuable input from the community. “All the projects put forward by the community were considered as part of the final budget and will be considered in the future.”

“The submissions we received show that these projects are very important to the community and we have some very passionate community members working hard on behalf of their community. Regardless of the outcome, everyone should be very proud of their efforts in preparing their submission and presenting to Council, which can be daunting. This project shows that Council listens to our community and we can work together for mutually beneficial outcomes,” said Cr Adem.

Other projects to receive funding in the Budget were:

Dookie Rail Trail detailed design $35k

Kialla community centre refurbishment $200k; Kialla Lakes BBQ and shelter $31k

Merrigum Pool splash equipment $84k; Pool sand filter & pump renewal $43k; Pool shade structure renewal $26k

Mooroopna rec reserve lighting $366k; Ferrari Park play space shade structure $60k; Mooroopna pool shade structure $19k

Murchison Gardens shade structure $60k

Tallygaroopna walking/cycling track detailed design $52k

Tatura Lake Bartlett Circuit Path $157k, Tatura Park air-conditioning $52k

Cosgrove Landfill $10.69m; Shepparton Regional Sports Precinct $7.71m; Roads to Recovery Program $4.88m; Verney Road stages 2 and 3 $1.88m; Shepparton CBD Revitalisation $300k

Cr Adem said “the proposed rating structure for 2016/2017 was informed by the Rating Strategy 2013-2017 which takes into account the recommendations of the Rating Strategy Reference Group and community input.”

“The 2016/2017 Budget includes a 2.5 per cent increase in rates revenue and 4.5 per cent increase in kerbside collection charges,” said Cr Adem. “It includes a capital budget of $43.49 million with $24.9 million allocated for renewal, $14.7million allocated for new capital works, $3.31million allocated for upgrades and $600,000 allocated for expansion works.”

“The 2.5 per cent increase is lower than the 4.95 per cent projections contained within Council's 2015/2016 Strategic Resource Plan. Council chose not to apply to the Essential Services Commission for a variation in the first year of rate capping, instead we focused on identifying operational savings and efficiencies to align with the proposed 2.5 per cent increase,” said Cr Adem.

“We had an enterprise wide approach to finding savings or alternative sources of income to provide increased value for money to ratepayers. Council will continue to focus on identifying sustainable cost savings that will enable it to deliver high quality, responsive and accessible services to the community,” said Cr Adem.

“This close attention to our cost base in the preparation of the budget document has enabled us to consider a budget that ensures a sustainable financial position for this Council,” he said.

“I am proud of the fact that not only does this budget forecast an operating surplus of $10m, we are fully funding our capital renewals, have a healthy cash balance and a liquidity ratio that is at a risk level acceptable to VAGO.”

Greater Shepparton City Council Director Corporate Services Chris Teitzel said that in simple terms the budget can be broken down into two main areas, how much we plan on spending and how much income we need to fund this spending.

“The spending is made of two components, the operating budget and the capital budget. The operating budget tells you what it costs to run the Council every year and the capital budget includes physical infrastructure, buildings and operational assets as well as funding proposals for a range of operating projects,” said Mr Teitzel.

Greater Shepparton City Council CEO Peter Harriott said “What was presented for adoption was a financially responsible budget which achieves a balance between wants and needs in order to efficiently manage our resources and provide high quality services and infrastructure to our community.”

The Draft 2016/2017 Budget was endorsed by Council on 19 April and the public were invited to submit ideas and feedback. The submission period ended on 20 May with 53 written submissions received; of these 17 submitters were heard at a Special Council Meeting on 7 June.

To learn more about our rating system, valuations or rate capping, there are three videos, on Council’s website which explain these concepts in an easy to understand way.

For more information about the budget visit greatershepparton.com.au