A $2.2 million waste disposal depot, $3.1 million expansion of the cattle section of the saleyards, and $1.9 million worth of development at the Homemaker Centre are in Council’s draft budget for 2018/19.
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A summary of key elements of the budget was included for consideration at last Thursday’s Council meeting, highlighting the three major capital projects.
Councillors voted to put the draft plan on public exhibition for community comment.
Under the draft, rates will increase 2.3 per cent in line with the rate peg set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal.
Expected income includes increased revenue from general rates, water and sewer charges.
In outlined expenditure, Council has budgeted for $400,000 on Vanfest, and added $40,000 for Elvis festival activities.
The budget allows: $3.397 million for roads; $1.415 million for replacement of major plant; $750,000 for roads and fencing at the aerodrome; $671,000 for recreational and community facilities.
There’s more money for: rural sealed roads (an additional $51,000); and kerb and gutter replacement (an extra $187,000);
And less money for urban street sealed maintenance ($192,000 less than previous).
“Generally current service levels have been maintained within the budget with a focus to effective asset management and general process improvements,” Council’s general manager Steve Loane said in his report to Council.
“The challenge … was no different to previous years in that typically Council has to do more with less against resources the backdrop of increasing community expectations.”
The draft budget is available online, or at the library, Council’s administration and engineering offices.
Councillors will consider the budget and community comment on it at their next meeting on June 21.