THREE Warrnambool City Councillors have used a modest rate rise to claim victory in a long running campaign.
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Councillors unanimously endorsed the draft budget at Monday night’s council meeting. It included a 2.5 per cent rate increase, in line with the forecast consumer price index, as stipulated in new state government legislation.
Despite the hit on revenues, the council has committed to providing all services at existing levels.
Councillors Peter Hulin, Brian Kelson and Peter Sycopoulis said they had been advocating for rate rises at or below CPI ever since being elected as councillors.
They said each year their requests had been met with the explanation services would have to be cut.
“It’s taken a directive from the state government to get this done,” Cr Kelson said.
“I guess you could say we were right.”
But Cr Michael Neoh said the reason services weren't being cut was because council had raised rates in the past with the view of funding what he called “legacy projects”.
He said if council hadn’t had rate rises above CPI, funding for projects like the Simpson Street drain refurbishment and parking in the railway precinct would have had to come from other areas.
“We’ve had the drainage levy and the car parking levy which has allowed us to fund these projects,” he said.
“We also had a levy for the small infrastructure fund, which allows us to support the community.
“There will always be demand on that fund, but we need to look at projects already on the list and start checking them off before we add new ones.
“Projects like the crossing in Koroit Street in front of Heatherlie Homes.
“We voted to send that to the 2014/15 budget, but nothing has been done about it since.”
Mayor Kylie Gaston said it was a responsible budget and said it was pleasing no lessening of services, despite rate capping.
“This is a $70 million budget, with $55 million assigned to maintain the broad range of services our council provides to the community, while $15 million is still being set aside for capital works projects,” Cr Gaston said.
Councillors voted unanimously to send the draft budget for public feedback.
A special meeting will be held on June 27 to adopt the final document.