Council accepts City of Ballarat 2018/19 Budget

The City of Ballarat 2018/19 Budget and Strategic Resource Plan were officially accepted by Council at a Special Council Meeting this evening.

All community feedback on the Draft Budget, including a submission and presentation made to Council at a Special Council Meeting earlier this month, were considered during its development.

This year’s budget is the second budget for this Council’s four-year term and has been produced in line with the Council Plan 2017-2022 to determine what projects, services, events and other initiatives will be funded and delivered in the forthcoming financial year.

City of Ballarat Mayor Samantha McIntosh said by now most residents are aware of the complexity involved in developing a council budget, but considered it extremely important to continue to involve the community and communicate the ways that Council reviews and refines its operations to provide best value.

“Our budgets must now be developed within the restrictions of reduced revenue, meaning we must keep our average rate increase within the 2.25 per cent cap set by the Minister for Local Government while still trying to deliver core services,” she said.

“Each year demands placed on Council exceed the revenue available, leading to a shortfall of $298 million - as a result of rate capping - over 10 years. This is money that would otherwise have been spent on the projects and services our residents have told us, very clearly, they want.”

“Maintaining our infrastructure under these financial constraints is an ongoing battle, and requires a long-term vision based on careful financial management in line with the needs and capacity of our community.”

However, despite the ongoing challenges, Cr McIntosh said the 2018/19 Budget achieved a good balance between delivering key community projects and providing exceptional services in-line with community expectations.

“Preparing a budget for a municipality of our size is not a simple task, particularly a municipality with $1.9 billion worth of assets,” she said.

“We should be spending $83.4 million each year to sustain what we have, but we can only afford to spend $43.4 million, which means there is a gap of $40 million each year.

“But nonetheless, the 2018/19 Budget will deliver exceptional outcomes for our community, reflecting the four goals of Liveability, Prosperity, Sustainability and Accountability of the Council Plan to improve the quality of life for our community, advance our economic position as the capital of Western Victoria, and protect, maintain and enhance our built and natural assets.”

The 2018/19 financial year will see the completion of the redevelopment of the Sebastopol Library, commencing $7.3 million emergency restoration works at Her Majesty’s Ballarat, and continuing work on the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre through a $5 million contribution.

Other budget highlights include a $5 million contribution to the Ballarat West Employment Zone, $1.4 million to restore the Ballarat Botanic Gardens Fernery, and $1.5 million for Family and Children’s Services.

“We’re also pleased to be paying down $1 million of debt; another result of careful financial management across all departments,” Cr McIntosh said.

However, Cr McIntosh said there were some changes that could not be avoided, one of those is the increase in waste levy.

Residents can expect to pay an additional 70 cents a week ($36.54 total) if they have all three roadside bins (garbage, recycling and green waste) or 60 cents a week ($31.51 total) if they don’t have a green waste bin. 

Cr McIntosh thanked the community for their feedback during the various consultation phases of the 2018/19 Budget, and encouraged residents to head online to read the final product.

The City of Ballarat’s Draft Budget, Strategic Resource Plan, and Council Plan 2017-2021 can be found online later this week at ballarat.vic.gov.au and news.ballarat.vic.gov.au