COUNCILLORS formally approved Mornington Peninsula Shire’s 2017-18 budget last Tuesday including a two per cent rate increase.
It is the second year of the state government’s rate capping system.
The waste service charge was increased by 2.1 per cent to $197. It is not subject to the rate cap.
Last year’s rates were capped at 2.5 per cent.
The capital works budget for 2017-18 is $37.5 million, with unequal spending between the shire’s six wars.
The mayor Cr Bev Colomb said “highlights included:
- $3.7 million for roadside vegetation management.
- $3.2 million for continued implementation of drainage strategy and works program.
- $18.4 million for road and car park construction and maintenance.
- $2.7 million for footpath construction and maintenance.
- $1.4 million to promote the region, industry development and visitor servicing.
- $11.1 million for aquatic and recreational facilities including planning for an aquatic centre in Rosebud, and construction of additional recreation and community facilities.
- $5 million for library services.
- $1.5 million for Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery.
- $2.6 million for child, youth and family health services.”
Cr Colomb said projects in a $2.6 million priority program included roadside fire management works, coastal risk mitigation, water conservation programs, support for community gardens, family violence prevention initiatives, heritage review and grants program, and youth and teenage mental health first aid training.
She said it was the “first budget of this council term, and we are looking forward to this budget supporting our recently adopted Council Plan 2017-21”.
“The budget delivers the programs, projects and initiatives to support and deliver on the Council Plan and its four key themes throughout 2017-18.”
The budget is on the shire website: mornpen.vic.gov.au/budget2018
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 20 June 2017
