HARD WORKING BUDGET Finance Portfolio Councillor Greg Barnes said: “Council is working extremely hard to lessen the effects of the global financial crisis, which has seen a significant reduction in investment earnings as a result of plummeting interest rates and reduced state government funding, while maintaining a satisfactory level of community service”. This Budget is influenced by the many demands and pressures placed upon Council as a result of the amalgamation process, and by the external factors over which Council has no control, i.e. commodity prices, climate conditions, State and Federal Government decisions. Council has aligned this Budget to community expectations, economic pressures to deliver a high level of services at minimal cost. The Local Government Code Index (Source: Local Government Association of Queensland), indicated that Councils across the State generally would have incurred a cost increase of 5.3% in 2009. Council’s biggest influence is: Road and Bridge Construction Queensland (Source: ABS Catalogues 640.1.0.6345.0 & 6427 Other factors include: Non-Residential Building Construction Queensland Wages (Australia) General Construction Queensland (Source: ABS Catalogues 6401.0,6345.0 and 6427.0) 12.9% 5.2% 4.2% 6.2%
Councils have been continually faced with cost shifting and devolution of duties from other levels of Government. Additional responsibilities and costs imposed by these sources include: Midge and pest control; Nuisance control; Animal control: Environmental weed control; Greywater systems management; Trainee programmes and Environmental Protection Agency Legislation particularly in relation to sewerage treatment and refuse disposal.
Media Enquiries to Council’s Corporate Communications Officer, Trish Mears (07) 4130 4269 or Trish.Mears@bundaberg.qld.gov.au
Above average population growth in the region has increased the needs of the community, particularly in relation to maintenance, delivery and upgrading of Infrastructure. Council has lost its $546,000 Road & Drainage Grant for the 2009/10 year and the State Government has declined 40% subsidy on 3 sewerage upgrades that are planned over the next 2 - 3years. This will impact on the cost structure of the sewerage charges for the following years. With changes to the treatment requirements enacted by State Government, Council and its and ratepayers will now have to bear the entire costs of upgrading these plants. Council anticipates that the additional cost to the community will amount to tens of millions of dollars over the next 10 years. For further information on Council’s 2009 – 2010 budget please contact Council’s Corporate Communications Officer, Trish Mears on 4130 4269.
Media Enquiries to Council’s Corporate Communications Officer, Trish Mears (07) 4130 4269 or Trish.Mears@bundaberg.qld.gov.au