Council Adopts 2022/23 Budget
Published on 01 July 2022
Mansfield Shire Council has adopted the 2022/23 Budget and Revised Revenue & Rating Plan 2021-2025 at its Ordinary Council Meeting held Tuesday 28 June 2022.
The adoption of the budget followed a comprehensive community consultation process including presentations by Councillors at two public forums and considering submissions from community members.
Mayor Cr James Tehan said this was a financially responsible budget that met the needs of a growing community.
“We’ve had unprecedented growth in our population and this trend is likely to continue. Our budget ensures that we continue to support our growing population now and into the future,” said Cr Tehan.
“We have been successful in advocating for additional funding for major projects and this has enabled us to budget for a large capital works program,” said Cr Tehan.
Key features of the 2022-23 budget include:
- Constructing a new 100 vehicle carpark in High Street, with the land Council purchased in May 2022, at a cost of $600,000. Council will borrow for this project.
- $1.45 million will focus on resolving long standing drainage issues, with $870,000 on the Apollo and High Street corner.
- Stage 2 of the Heavy Vehicle Alternate Route ($2.08 million).
- Open space and streetscape improvements ($412,000).
- Path and cycleways ($421,000).
- Station Precinct Master Plan – Heritage Museum Building ($1.28 million).
New service initiatives include:
- Another year of the Outlying Communities Infrastructure Fund Grant, with $50,000 providing opportunities for our outlying community groups to apply for funds to improve community infrastructure.
- Population growth means more roads and open spaces to maintain, so two new full time staff members will be appointed.
- Council’s environment and sustainability program includes $5,000 for tree planting and $5,000 for community education programs
- Flood mapping for the Mansfield township will be budgeted at a cost of $25,000 to Council with $90,000 in external funding.
- A permanent part time position for planning and advocacy in aged care, youth services and early years.
- Implementation of the Onsite Wastewater Management Plan.
“In addition to the budget, Council passed the revised Revenue and Rating Strategy. We understand that residential property values have gone up, on average, by 45%. Council has adjusted rate differentials to ease the rate shock for residential ratepayers through the Strategy. This is the same approach we used last year when farmland values increased disproportionally.”
After a zero percent rate increase this financial year, the 2022-23 budget contains a 1.75 percent rate increase in line with the State Government Rate Cap. The proposed budget provides for a total operating expenditure of almost $24 million and a capital works program of close to $11 million.
The adopted budget increases the household waste charge. The average ratepayer currently pays about $330 and will pay approximately $495. The proposed cost is comparable to waste service charges at neighbouring councils, which are greater than $500 per year. This reflects significant increases in waste charges over the past three years.
The approved budget can be found at http://mshire.co/Budget22-23(PDF, 6MB)