Council’s 2021 – 2022 Budget Consultation Paper now open for community feedback!
After collating community feedback on Council’s annual budget plans last year, the 2021 - 2022 Budget Paper is now open for consultation.
Mayor Andy Ireland said the budget simulation tool used by residents last year assisted in formulating the current on 2021/2022 Budget priorities, and thanked the community for providing their valuable feedback.
“The information residents provided has assisted in guiding Councillors and Council staff with budget deliberation discussions over the past few months,” Mayor Ireland said.
“Council has now produced a budget consultation paper and is asking for further feedback prior to adopting the final budget document in June.”
The total Budget for 2021/2022 is at $143.9 million, of which $48.4 million is on set to deliver important major community and economic infrastructure in addition to ongoing significant investment in infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water, sewerage and footpaths.
Council has been successful in obtaining and seeking to obtain external grant funding of $27.0 million in order to deliver the infrastructure that’s important for the functioning of our region and infrastructure reflective of our community’s future needs.
“We have an ambitious vision for the future of this Shire as well as a strong commitment to deliver the best possible service. I believe the draft budget achieves that balance,” Mayor Ireland said.
“This is an important process that highlights Council’s transparency and meaningful engagement with the community and we appreciate everyone’s suggestions and ideas on how we can improve budget spending.”
Portfolio holder of Organisational Performance, Deputy Mayor, Councillor Adam Belot, said Livingstone Shire Council was one of the first Local Governments in Australia to engage an innovative simulation tool, which gave residents the opportunity to build their own Council draft budget.
“This was an exciting first for Livingstone Shire Council, which supports its goal to provide transparent financial data to the community,” Cr Belot said.
“Budget deliberation can be a complex balancing act, so we wanted to give Livingstone residents the opportunity to understand what goes into building the budget, having to balance a total of $143.9 million in operational and capital works spending.
“We recognise that some community members want to be involved in the budget process from start to finish, while others are more interested in the end result, so this consultation facilitates that and allows residents to get involved in a more meaningful way, gaining a deeper level of understating of the annual budget.
“We welcome the community’s participation and look forward to once again consulting with residents on the budget consultation paper, following careful consideration taken by Councillors and Council staff to build a budget that aims to meet the community’s needs and expectations on the delivery of its services.”
To read and have your say on the budget consultation paper, please visit https://getinvolved.livingstone.qld.gov.au/
Copies of the survey and budget consultation paper will also be available in local libraries and Council’s Customer Support Centres. Consultation closes, 28 May 2021, at 5pm.
Some significant highlights of the budget are:
- Holding or reducing residential rates, the road network separate charge and the environment levy
- Phasing in over the next five (5) years towards a user pays charging structure for water schemes based on quality of water supplied (potable versus non-potable) and water pressure (on-demand versus constant flow)
- Transition over the next five (5) years to target a two-tier consumption charge to bring more in line with industry peers and a greater incentive to conserve water
- Maintaining the maximum $300 rebate for pensioners and eligible concession card holders
- Continuing commitment to ongoing community sponsorships and grant program of $400,000
- $48.4 million investment in existing and new infrastructure
- No new loan borrowings with a $5.5 million reduction in loans continuing the focus on debt reduction
- Healthy cash balance forecast
The proposed 2021/2022 budget sets out an allocation for a range of services including:
- Customer service, governance and administration: $11.0m
- Environmental and Public Health and Safety: $4.4m
- Community Services and events: $5.1m
- Road, Bridges, Drainage, Parks and recreation : $19.2m
- Shire Planning and Economic Development: $7.4m
- Waste Services: $7.1m
- Waste Water (Sewerage) Services: $4.5m
- Water Infrastructure: $12.1m
- Depreciation: $22.5m
Total: $93.3m