By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
RESIDENTS will again be dishing out the dollars to the City of Casey with rates soon to rise by an average of 6.3 per cent, as revealed in council’s 2014-15 Draft Budget released on Wednesday.
The 6.3 per cent rise to rates and waste charges has been flagged in the $317 million budget, from which $239 million will be allocated to the council’s operating budget and the remaining $78 million will be spent on the council’s capital works program to fund community infrastructure.
Casey Mayor Geoff Ablett this week brushed aside suggestions that the development of the new Casey Cultural Precinct had impacted upon the rate rise.
“Some residents have asked whether their rates have increased as a result of the construction of the new cultural precinct – this is not the case,” he said.
“Through many years of responsible financial management, council can finance the construction of the Casey Cultural Precinct without an increase to rates using a combination of savings, a loan and external funding to fund the project.”
Councillor Ablett said the council understood the financial pressures facing residents but could not afford to stop investing in community facilities, parks and roads.
He said the City of Casey had been “hit” with soaring utility costs and reduced grants from other levels of government, which were out of the council’s control.
“While increasing rates is not our preferred option, we have to balance the external costs being placed onto council and our responsibility to continue delivering high quality services and building community infrastructure,” he said.
“Over 120 people move into Casey each week.
“We are taking steps now to future proof the city, to ensure there is no compromise to the essential services and infrastructure that residents enjoy now and into the future.”
Major projects allocated funding in the capital works program include the Edwin Flack Reserve Synthetic Athletics Track in Berwick, flood lighting 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.
Mayor Ablett also confirmed that the council had undertaken a new valuation of rateable properties as of 1 January 2014.
“All councils in Victoria are required to undertake this valuation every two years,” he said.
“The purpose of the revaluation is to update the council’s measure of how much your property is worth.
“Valuations are independently certified by the Valuer General and revaluations do not generate extra revenue for the council, they simply redistribute the same rate revenue across properties on a different basis.”
Ratepayers are invited to view the Draft Budget at www.casey.vic.gov.au and they can have their say at www.caseyconversations.com.au.
