By LIA SPENCER
RATEPAYERS in Casey will have to dig deep to cover the whopping 7.5 per cent general rate increase adopted in the 2013-’14 draft budget on Sunday.
The rate rise comes on top of a fire service levy charge which will be collected by all Victorian councils on behalf of the State Government, and passed on to the State Revenue Office.
The proposed 7.5 per cent general rate increase comprises a 4.5 per cent increase plus three per cent for external imposts to fund community infrastructure and an operating budget of $229 million to deliver vital services, including upgrades to many sporting facilities throughout Casey.
The fire service levy will appear as a separate charge on council rates notices and will be $100 for residential properties and $200 for non-residential properties, plus a variable cost based on the property’s capital improved value listed on rates notices.
All funds collected will go towards supporting Victoria’s fire services and helping to fund the cost of the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (MFB) and the Country Fire Authority (CFA).
City of Casey Mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon said a number of externally imposed impacts affected this year’s draft budget.
“Council has had to balance some major financial pressures placed on council including increased street lighting costs ($650,000), reduction in state and federal government grants and cost shifting ($350,000) and unfunded superannuation liabilities imposed onto all councils ($1.37m). In addition council still has to carry the costs of the Federal Government’s carbon tax in 2013-14 (in excess of $1m),” she said.
“The City of Casey has been working hard to reduce the burden on ratepayers and is disappointed that the rate rise has had to increase to accommodate the pressures being imposed on council. The rate rise would have been only around 4.5 per cent without those external impacts.”
Cr Stapledon said that with 120 people moving into Casey each week, the budget focused on meeting the needs of the growing population including services for an ageing population and maintaining additional parks and open spaces.
“While we would prefer no rise at all, we know that the essential services which residents rely on are critical and we cannot afford to stop investing in our community and its future,” she said.
Some of the major projects included in the draft budget include construction of the $6.4m Carlisle Park football/cricket oval and pavilion, including tennis courts; construction of the $4.5m Lynbrook Community Centre and Hall; completion of the $6.6m AFL and cricket ovals and pavilion and netball courts at Marriott Waters Estate in Lyndhurst; completion of the $2.2m improvements to the gymnasium at the Endeavour Hills Leisure Centre; design of the synthetic athletics track at Edwin Flack Reserve in Berwick and multiple renewal projects at council facilities including family and children’s and sporting facilities in Doveton and Hampton Park.
All residents are invited to view the Draft Budget and make a submission. It is available for inspection at the City of Casey’s Narre Warren, Narre Warren South and Cranbourne Customer Service Centres and on Council’s website.
To have your say visit www.caseyconversations.com.au
The council will consider any written submissions and adopt the budget at a special council meeting to be held at the Civic Centre, Magid Drive, Narre Warren, on Tuesday 25 June.
For further information on the fire services property levy visit www.firelevy.vic.gov.au
