2022-23 Hobsons Bay Budget adopted

Budget 2021-22

Hobsons Bay City Council has adopted its 2022-23 Budget, featuring $62.961 million in major infrastructure projects across the city and funding for more than 100 vital community services.

Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Councillor Peter Hemphill, said that the 2022-23 Budget was a financially responsible and sustainable budget that met the needs of our community.

“This year’s Annual Budget includes a robust capital works program, which is vital to providing new infrastructure across Hobsons Bay, as well as maintaining our existing assets.

“It is also crucial to stimulating our local economy and providing local jobs.

“In addition to a strong capital works program, the budget includes funding for a diverse range of core community services delivered by Council,” Cr Hemphill said.

Highlights of the capital works program include:

  • Buildings ($20.737 million), including sporting and recreational facilities ($11.515 million), environmental sustainability initiatives ($2.019 million), community centres ($4.967 million) and the building renewal program ($2.236 million)
  • Recreation and open space ($13.118 million), including parks, open space and streetscapes ($8.033 million), recreational, leisure and community facilities ($3.073 million), off street carparks ($1.437 million) and bridges ($575,000)
  • Roads ($14.17 million), drains ($5.154 million), footpaths and cycleways ($2.365 million)
  • Waste management ($1.15 million) and other infrastructure ($885,000)
  • Plant and equipment ($5.382 million), including scheduled replacement of Council’s vehicle and plant fleets ($3.745 million), library resources ($750,000) and information technology ($850,000).

Community services funded include conservation and maintenance of open spaces, management of five libraries, three community centres, waste and recycling collections, local business development and support, disability services, cultural and art events and programs, children and youth services, meals on wheels, and immunisation services.

The Annual Budget predicts an operational surplus of $26.339 million, excluding capital works expenditure. While the 2022-23 operational surplus represents a strong result, it is expected that surpluses will decline in future years.

To ensure that Council remains financially viable and maintains a robust capital works program, it is diversifying revenue streams, borrowing funds to bring forward capital works, and actively pursuing grant funding and partnerships from the state and federal governments. Council also plans to borrow $8 million in 2022-23 to bring forward capital works supported by the community that would otherwise not commence for at least 12 months.

As Victoria recovers from the effects of COVID-19, Council is reinstating fees that were waived as part of its community support package during the pandemic, including footpath trading permit fees, food and health registrations, and sporting ground allocation fees.

To continue delivering essential services, programs and infrastructure projects that benefit the community, the Annual Budget includes a 1.75 per cent rate increase, which is consistent with the Victorian Government’s rate cap.

The 1.75 per cent rate increase is applied to the total amount collected from rateable properties across the city and is not applied equally to individual properties. This means that some ratepayers will pay less than 1.75 per cent and others will pay more, but overall, general rates won’t exceed the (reduced) rate cap.

All properties are revalued each year by a state government appointed independent valuer with the revaluation process attempting to ensure rates are fairly redistributed across all properties in the city.

All 2022-23 Budget documents are available at: www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Budget2022-23

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