KIAMA residents are invited to have their say on the draft budget for the 2016/17 financial year.
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Kiama Mayor Brian Petschler has described it as a “responsible” budget.
The total estimated operating and capital expenditure is approximately $86 million (excluding depreciation).
On Tuesday night, Kiama councillors met to consider the draft Operational Plan, draft budget, the revenue policy and fees and charges policy for 2016/17.
Council resolved to place the draft documents on public exhibition.
Written submissions close at 4pm on Tuesday, May 31.
The draft documents will return to council in June for adoption.
Cr Petschler said this year the budget has been prepared with the aim of achieving all seven of the financial benchmarks required for a council to be declared ‘Fit for the Future’.
These areas are Operating Performance Ratio, Own Source of Revenue, Building and Assets Renewal Ratio, Infrastructure Backlog Ratio, Asset Maintenance Ratio, Debt Service Ratio and Real Operating Expenditure.
“(The council report) shows the seven ratios which form part of the Fit for the Future program, and which shows that we meet, and exceed in all cases the requirements of the Fit for the Future program as of this budget, and not in the two years’ time when we are supposed to,” the mayor said at Tuesday’s meeting.
Cr Petschler said this budget focuses on asset maintenance and renewal, while still delivering a number of new capital projects.
“Not only is the council able to demonstrate its strong commitment to and focus on strategic financial management, but we’ve been able to ensure the Operational Plan meets every commitment made to the community by this current council,” he said.
According to council’s report, a number of key projects have now been completed or are on track to be finished before the end of this financial year, including the Jerrara Dam decommissioning, the major plant replacement program and the Waste Services improvement projects.
Council will also seek to progress the redevelopment of the Kiama Hospital site to construct a 134-bed aged care facility, community services offices, community hall, 51 independent living units and refurbishing of Barroul House.
Construction of the project will commence in 2016/2017.
According to council’s report, a surplus budget is projected.
”This is after use of some of council reserves for priority capital works and capital renewal works, and allowing for a 1.8 per cent increase in rate revenue approved by the Office of Local Government,” council’s report said.
“Council and the community have been benefiting from income from land development programs. This is a finite resource. It is important that profits from land development is effectively managed and kept in reserve for necessary capital renewal of existing assets.”