MARIBYRNONG ratepayers have been given an election-year gift after the council delivered its lowest rate rise – 4.9 per cent – in five years in its draft 2012-13 budget.
Rates will earn the council $69.5million in revenue, up 6.2 per cent on the $65.4 million it earned last year through a 5.5 per cent rate rise.
Based on a median Maribyrnong median house price of $475,000, homeowners will pay $1577 in rates next year. The council has one eye on the bottom line, claiming a hit in costs of close to $4million was passed on from state and federal governments, including an unfunded superannuation liability and a landfill levy.
As a result, the council is tightening its belt and cutting excess expenditure by putting a hold on “unnecessary” staff hiring, cutting contract labour and adding no new borrowing.
Council corporate services general manager Stephen Wall said the council was aware of the tough economic climate and was also preparing to absorb the impact of the federal government’s carbon tax.
He said the carbon tax would add about $1million to the council’s expenses through increases in a range of areas from the cost of building roads to running vehicles and energy costs.
“This budget is not dissimilar to the sate and federal budgets in terms of the economic pressures the community finds itself in.
“[It’s a] real challenge for council to continually improve the services it delivers but remain mindful of the pressures on ratepayers.”
The council will spend $28million of its total $110.3million budget on capital works and that includes almost $7million in government grants, representing a net increase of just over $3million on last year. More than $7million will be spent on roads and parks and reserves earmarked for upgrades, including:
■$660,000 for Beaton, Cranwell, Martin Reserve and Dobson reserves
■$300,000 for the sports pavilions renewal program
■$550,000 for the Shorten Reserve pavilion development
■$430,000 for the soccer ground pavilion and a turf cricket wicket at McIvor Reserve
An electronic parking guidance system will direct shoppers to available parking in the Footscray CBD while paid parking, recently expanded to more areas of the CBD, will earn the council $3.6million. About $1million of that will come from the new car park to be built next to Footscray hospital on the former Southampton Street council depot. Money from fines, including parking, is expected to be more than $6.6million.
Other budget measures include expansion of library opening hours at Yarraville and Maribyrnong and increased funding for its festivals program. The council will finally be free of the $33million debt it inherited from the former Footscray Council from the failed Quay West development, with its final $974,000 payment being made in 2012-13.
Mayor John Cumming said the budget was aimed at continually improving the amenity of the municipality.
The budget is open for public comment until June 6.
More details: maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
