By Victoria Stone-Meadows
Casey council formally released its Draft Budget 2017/’18, Council Vision, and Draft 2017-’21 Council Plan for public consideration at a special meeting on Tuesday 9 May.
The 2017/’18 budget includes a 2 per cent rate rise across the municipality in line with the State Government’s rate capping scheme.
Casey council did not apply for a variation to the rate cap in the 2017/’18 financial year despite applying for a variation – and being knocked back – in the 2016/’17 financial year.
The 2017/’18 Casey council budget allocates a total of $415.3 million with $290.6 million being allocated towards operating costs and $124.7 million to the capital works program.
Sports and recreation facilities such as ovals, club rooms and other sports-related infrastructure are big winners in the budget being allocated $20.9 million.
A total of $20.4 million has been allocated to renewing and building community facilities across the municipality.
Roads, paths, public lighting, drainage and pedestrian crossings have been allocated $16.2 million. Playgrounds and open spaces will receive a $2.16 million allocation and a further $12.5 million allocation will go towards family and children centres.
Environmental initiatives also feature in the budget with a $1.4 million allocation to council’s tree management programs and $315,000 to retrofit three of council’s higher energy consumption facilities with LED lighting and solar panels.
Community centres in Cranbourne East, Doveton, Narre Warren, Clyde North, and Endeavour Hills are some of the major beneficiaries in the budget with $12.9 million being allocated to renew and construct centres in these areas.
The cost to households on waste management services across the City of Casey will go down and average at 7 per cent in 2017/’18.
During his speech at the special council meeting, Casey Mayor Sam Aziz said the cut to the growing suburbs fund by the State Government would mean delays to major projects in the future.
“The proportion of investment from rates revenue in capital works over the next year is the lowest it’s been for some time,” he said.
“While this was supplemented by unexpected State Government grants in the last financial year, the slashing of the Growing Suburbs Fund by half in the State Budget will likely put an end to that.”
“As a result, council will have no choice but to reduce or delay future investment in services and infrastructure.”
The draft budget and strategic plan will be available for the community to review and have their say on until 9 June 2017.
The budget papers can be viewed online at www.caseyconversations.com.au/our-future.
Those lodging a submission will have the opportunity to present to council on 21 June and council will consider any written submissions before adopting the 2017-’18 budget on 27 June 2017.
