TWEED residents will be slugged an extra $112 in rates and charges next financial year under a draft $194.2 million budget released by council last week.
Councillors at last Thursday’s meeting adopted the draft budget policy which comprises $118.5 million in general funds, $35.2 million for water and $40.5 million for the sewer fund.
The budget, up from $187.45 million in 2012-’13, represents a 3.4 per cent increase in ordinary rates as determined by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).
Under the plan, residents can expect to pay a minimum of $2126 in rates and charges in 2013-’14, up from $2013 previously, including approximately $972 in ordinary rates, $691 in sewerage charges, $138 for water, $279 in various waste and recycling charges as well as $45 in landfill management charges.
Major projects included in the 2013-’14 Budget include $7.75 million towards Arkinstall Park master plan, $9.08 million for road construction, $1.6 million for drainage construction, $4.7 million for the Clarrie Hall Dam spillway and $12.9 million in sewer infrastructure.
Tweed Mayor Barry Longland said the budget represented good planning by council.
“We’ve got a balanced budget,’’ Cr Longland said.
“We have limited our rates rise to that which is applicable to rate pegging. It is a modest increase but one which is in keeping with the CPI.
“In 2013-’14 we have struck a budget which is going to provide for the services and infrastructure that our community is wanting.
“Having said that, there are many projects which any council might like to embark on, like building new roads and bridges, but we have to live within our means.’’
Cr Longland said damage costs to infrastructure caused by flooding from ex-cyclone Oswald last January would be covered by disaster relief funding from the state and would not impact on the Tweed’s bottom line.
“The floods had a moderate financial impact but fortunately the events of the last two Australia Days were both designated as natural disaster events which triggered funding from the State Government,’’ Cr Longland said.
He said the Tweed had fared well in the latest NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp) assessment of the financial sustainability of councils across NSW.
The report, released by the Division of Local Governmenton Friday, gave Tweed Council a moderate financial sustainability rating and a neutral outlook – a positive considering a majority of the state’s 152 councils reported operating deficits.
The draft Budget documents will be on public exhibition until 28 May and can be accessed at council’s website www.tweed.nsw.gov.au
Council will meet with community groups to discuss the documents in the latter part of the public exhibition period.
