We adopted our budget for 2018/19 at our council meeting on Tuesday 26 June 2018.

View the 2018/19 adopted budget.

The budget was developed following a 4-month conversation with our community, during which we received more than 250 written suggestions as well as a number of verbal submissions.

It supports more than 100 services and projects, while building towards a strong and sustainable financial position.

We are currently preparing the final budget document, and will publish it on our website shortly.  

Below are details of the council resolution.

Moved: Councillor Nguyen                                  Seconded: Councillor Coleman

1.         That Council, in considering submissions made on the proposed 2018/19 Budget and for the reasons set out in the document ‘Reasons for Council’s Budget Decision’:

(a) adopts the 2018/19 Proposed Budget as the Annual Budget of Council for the 2018/19 financial year, conditional on the following amendments:

a. Deletion/Reduction of the budget provisions for:
(i) Deliberative Engagement - $100,500;
(ii) Activity Centre Design - $160,000;
(iii) Burnley Park Cottage Capex - $40,000;
(iv) Reduction to Canoe Club budget - $30,000;

Provide for “refurbishment works only” - $50,000 with a report to Council in the new financial year regarding lease conditions.

 b. Inclusion of budget provisions for:
(i) Master Planning – Vere Street/ Soldiers and Sailors Abbotsford and Fitzroy Town Hall Precinct (project code 29) -100,000;
(ii) Youth Space in Richmond - $185,000;       
Whilst advocating to State Government for funding the Hub –and Conditional upon provision of appropriate Business Plan.
(iii) Funding Yarra’s Municipal Agreement with Bacau District up to $5,500;
(iv) Alliance Gambling Reform - $15,000;
(v) Sustainable Transport Advocacy- $10,000;
In particular the Doncaster Corridor.
(vi) Outdoor Exercise Equipment/Bench Seating - $15,000;
Exercise equipment for selected locations and also bench seating for the Peterson Oval (Using recycled plastic where available and appropriate) subject to community consultation.

c. That in respect of:
(i) Project Code 34 - Victoria Street Roller Shutter Program;  Council determine to fund such project as a grant to the Victoria Street Traders Association with formal agreement guidelines to undertake the project;
(ii) Project Code 9902 - Victoria Street Streetscape; opportunity to create a community garden in Butler Street Park – subject to community consultation;
(iii) Review of fees and charges for Council facilities, and that Officers bring forward a report for Council consideration for the 2019/20 budget year;
(iv) Requests that Officers present a report to Council by the last week of November 2018, reviewing Yarra’s arts and cultural festival funding, its suitability and its triple-bottom line sustainability.
(v) Bicycle Network Infrastructure, Victoria Street Litter and Oil Interceptor, building energy infrastructure and Activity Centre Design budget bids, be considered as part of a mid -year review, to ascertain whether funding is available.

(b) adopts the 2018/19 - 2021/22 Strategic Resource Plan  and the 2018/19 – 2027/28 Long Term Financial Strategy as the Long Term Financial Strategy for 2018/19;

(c) makes copies of the 2018/19 Adopted Budget (as amended), Strategic Resource Plan (as amended) and Long Term Financial Strategy (as amended) available at Council offices, libraries and on Council’s website; 

(d) authorises the Chief Executive Officer to give public notice of the decision to adopt the Annual Budget and submit a copy to the Minister for Local Government, in accordance with Section 130 of the Act; 

(e) endorses Council’s response to the submissions and notifies in writing the persons who have made a submission regarding the 2018/19 Proposed Budget and Long Term Financial Straegy of Council’s decision, in accordance with Section 223 of the Act, which will include a response to the issues raised in the submission;

(f) declares rates and charges as per pages 42-44 of the budget document in summary, an amount of $ 108,937,000.00 (or such greater amount as is lawfully levied as a consequence of this resolution) as the amount which Council intends to raise by General Rates and other charges, which is calculated as follows: 

General Rates - $ 107,422,000.00
Special Rates Schemes - $ 315,000.00
Supplementary Rates - $1,200,000.00
Total Rates and Charges - $ 108,937,000.00

(g) advises in respect to General Rates: 

(i) a general rate be declared in respect of and for the entire duration of the 2018/19 financial year; 
(ii) it further be declared that the general rate be raised by application of a uniform rate; 
(iii) a percentage of 0.03530577 be specified as the percentage of the uniform rate which may be alternatively expressed as $0.03530577 cents in the NAV dollar, subject to final sign off by the Valuer-General; 
(iv) it be confirmed that no amount is fixed as the minimum amount payable by way of a general rate in respect of each rateable property within the municipality; and
(v) the Council funded Pensioner Rate Rebate be declared at $182.50 for 2018/19; 

(h) declares no Annual Service Charge in respect of the 2018/19 financial year;

(i) declares no Municipal Charge in respect of the 2018/19 financial year; and

(j) authorises the Chief Executive Officer to effect minor administrative and wording changes to the 2018/19 Budget and Long Term Financial Strategy documents, which may be required, including correcting the names of the attachments  1 – 5 listed on the website under the public meeting agenda.

2.  That Council has reviewed the Council Plan (incorporating the Health and Wellbeing Plan) in accordance with relevant legislation, and no changes are proposed.

CARRIED