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Home>Council & Services>Media & Publications>Council Documents>Draft Budget 2013-2014
Under the Local Government Act 1989 as amended by the Local Government (Democratic Reform) Act 2003 (“the Act”), Council is required to prepare and adopt an annual budget. The budget is required to be adopted by 31 August each year. This summary has been prepared to provide the reader with relevant financial information in a form that is easy to understand.
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Kingston Council has announced its $173 million Draft Budget for 2013-14, which focuses on improving services, delivering $44 million in capital works, maintaining $2.4 billion in community assets and ensuring Kingston residents continue to pay less than the average Melbourne metropolitan rate bill.
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Mayor Cr Ron Brownlees OAM encouraged residents to review the Draft Budget and provide feedback by 5pm Wednesday 12 June 2013.
“The 2013-14 Draft Budget will ensure that Kingston continues to be a great place to live by responding to increasing demand for Council’s services, particularly growth in areas such as complex planning permit applications, Home and Community Care, maintenance of public reserves and buildings and requests for road and footpath infrastructure,” Cr Brownlees said.
The Budget invests in a number of service enhancements, such as $5.55million for the recently announced Parkdale and Edithvale Children’s’ Hubs which will secure 198 kinder and 135 long day care places for future years, $0.9 million for the redevelopment/establishment of Heatherton Recreation Reserve Pavilion, and a $0.7 million extension of Terrigal Drive Preschool in Patterson Lakes.
It also continues Council’s investmentof $7.9 million over five years for the future development of the Green Wedge (another $2.4 million this year) and $5.5 million for foreshore renewal (another $1.1 million this year).
The Budget absorbs extra expenses and income losses as a result of lower occupancy rates at Northcliffe Lodge hostel and a $400,000 decrease in interest income after paying off an unbudgeted $10.4 million unfunded Defined Benefits Superannuation Liability in 2012/13 without increasing rates.
“Council is pleased we were able to pay the $10.4 million unfunded superannuation impost in this financial year. We went to great lengths to find cost savings and made some difficult decisions in order to do this,” Cr Brownlees said.
The Budget proposes a 4.45% rise in total rates and charges, which is less than the 4.95% in the long term financial plan. This will be achieved by returning half of the net amount ($0.5 million) that would have formerly been paid to the MFB, and is no longer required under the new Fire Services Property Levy system, back to residents, while utilising the other half ($0.5 million) to fund asset renewal, such as contributing towards Council’s $12.5 million investment in community hubs, and new service initiatives for the community, including Volunteer Support Officer.
Cr Brownlees said he was pleased this Budget maintains rates at a fair and reasonable level, while achieving many of Council’s strategic objectives and providing a major capital works program full of projects that will improve our community.
“Examples of these projects include $3.2 million for improving roads, $3.8 million on a drainage flood mitigation program, $3 million to commence works on the Parkdale Community Hub, $2.55 million on the Edithvale Children’s Hub, $2 million for redeveloping the Bert Thomas Pavilion at Edithvale Recreation Reserve, a further $1.8 million for the Kallay Street, Clayton Kindergarten relocation, $891,000 for Heatherton Recreation Reserve Pavilion renewal and expansion, and $675,000 on the Terrigal Drive, Patterson Lakes Preschool expansion,” Cr Brownlees said.
Cr Brownlees said Council recognises the demands on pensioners at rate time and we will continue to offer an $80 rate rebate which is in addition to the State Government rebate of $202.90. |
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2013/14 Draft Budget – AT A GLANCE
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$173 million budget
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4.45% increase in total rates and charges revenue
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Asset renewal gap progressively eliminated by 2032
$44 million Capital Works program includes:
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Flood Mitigation Program $3.8M
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Roads Reconstruction $3.2M
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Bert Thomas Pavilion $2.0M
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Kallay St Kinder Relocation $1.8M
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Footpath Renewal $1.5M
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Road Resurfacing $1.3M
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Traffic Management $0.75M
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Building Audit Renewal $0.75M
Examples of proposed increased service delivery include:
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Parkdale Community Hub $3.M
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Edithvale Children's Hub $2.55M
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Heatherton Rec Res Pav $0.9M
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Terrigal Drive Preschool $0.7M
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| Community feedback invited | | Kingston residents are invited to a public information session at 6pm on Wednesday 29 May 2013 at Council’s Cheltenham Office (1230 Nepean Highway) to explain and discuss the 2013/14 Draft Budget.
Residents are encouraged to review the Draft Budget, available on Council’s website http://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/link/budgetor at Customer Service Centres and libraries. Written submissions are invited by 5pm, Wednesday 12 June 2013 via:
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Email to info@kingston.vic.gov.au; or
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Mail to Mr Bernard Byrden, Manager Finance, Kingston City Council, PO Box 1000, Mentone, 3194
A special Council meeting will be held on Monday 17 June, 2013 to consider written submissions and people are invited to speak to their submissions at this meeting. The Draft Budget will be considered for formal adoption at a Special Council meeting on Monday 22 July 2013.
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