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News>Towong Shire draft budget focuses on infrastructure; sustainability
| Towong Shire draft budget focuses on infrastructure; sustainability - 19/7/2012 |  Printer Friendly |
| Towong Shire Council believes that its draft Budget for the 2012/13 financial year is responsible and includes actions to address the long-term financial sustainability of the organisation, key community-driven capital works projects and a commitment to maintaining the existing level of services provided by the Council.
“At the forefront of our minds when we are considering our budget is how we can ensure that Council continues to be a viable organisation and what actions we need to take to set ourselves up to maintain our infrastructure, improve services and deliver projects that the community needs into the future,” said Cr Debi Gadd, Towong Shire Council Mayor.
The proposed Budget for 2012/13 includes a $9.4 million capital works program, with over $3 million of works to restore damaged infrastructure across the Shire as a result of the March 2012 flood event.
“The capital works program is the largest program ever proposed by Council and we have been successful in securing $4.7 million of external funds for the program through Government grants,” said Cr Gadd.
Among the big-ticket capital works projects to be undertaken by the Council during 2012/13 are $1.5 million of bridge construction projects and $3 million for road construction and renewal.
Cr Gadd also expressed Council’s pleasure at being able to include significant projects to improve community infrastructure in its proposed Budget. “A number of initiatives that will enhance recreation and community facilities have received funding from the Victorian Government as well as a considerable contribution raised by the community,” she said.
Council’s proposed Budget includes an increase to rate revenue of 6.3% and proposes to increase its Municipal, Waste Management and Garbage and Recycling Collection charges by $12, $10 and $21 respectively.
“Council is exposed to significant price escalations which are outside of our control, such as rises in electricity, fuel and garbage disposal costs and we understand that our ratepayers are subject to these cost of living increases too. With this in mind, Council has tried to keep increases to rates and other charges as low as we can, while still being able to deliver the services and projects that are valued by our community,” said Cr Gadd.
Cr Gadd together with her colleagues invite ratepayers to consider the information presented in Council’s draft Budget.
“The proposed Budget includes details about Council’s current financial position and projections for its position into the future,” said Cr Gadd. “It is open for public comment and any person can make a formal submission in response to the proposed Budget,”
The proposed Budget for 2012/13 is available online at www.towong.vic.gov.au or from Council’s offices at Corryong and Tallangatta. Submissions in accordance with Section 223 of the Local Government Act are invited and can be made up until Thursday 2 August 2012. Council will consider all submissions at its meeting on Monday 6 August before it proceeds with formally adopting a Budget for 2012/13.
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