Last Friday afternoon, the Shire of Gingin held their 2010/2011 budget meeting.
The officer’s report suggested a rate increase of 10 percent for the GRV and 12 percent for UV. After extensive deliberations the council made some adjustments and reduced the increases to seven percent for GRV and 10 percent for UV properties.
This would make the minimum rate for Gross Rental Value (GRV) properties $685.00 and $705.00 the minimum for Unimproved Value (UV) properties.
Each one percent rate increase or decrease equated to approximately a $45,000 effect on the budget deliberations.
An increase of 37 percent has been passed across the board for rubbish collection and tip fees.
For many years the ratepayers in the Shire of Gingin have enjoyed some of the lowest council rates and tipping fees in the state.
Deputy shire president, David Roe, commended the new chief executive officer, David Burt, and manager for financial services, Kaye Lowes, on the presentation of the budget report, which exceeded 700 pages.
One of the features in the budget meeting included the deferment of the $222,724 plant replace-ment program until staff have re-assessed the entire program.
The budget indicates that staff wages and salaries will increase by 10.26 percent over the financial year. This increase includes the funding of an additional doctor in Gingin and a reduction of about $100,000 for consultants.
The council adopted the 2010 to 2014 Plan for the Future report. The council has received a $35,000 grant through the Royalties to Regions funding to carryout strategic and financial planning in late September/early October. The Local Government Act requires the council to provide a four year plan.
CEO, David Burt, indicated that he was proposing a ten year plan and felt that council should consult with the community as the planning program progressed.
Councillors meeting fees and allowances were increased by the annual CPI. This equate to an extra $180.00 per year per councillor. Similar adjustments were made to the shire presidents and deputy shire presidents allowances.
Capital works totalled just over one million dollars this financial year. This included work at the Guilderton Caravan Park; the Sirex proposal for deep sewer at Gingin; work at the Lancelin tip; Guilderton Bowling Club; Lancelin sewerage project and the Gingin Sound Shell.
Nearly 70 community/cultural budget requests were considered. A total of $138,255 was allocated to 30 different projects.
Some of the projects to be funded include: Lancelin and Gingin telecentres; Gingin District High School; Guilderton Community Association; Lancelin Chamber of Commerce; Lancelin Residents and Ratepayers Assoc; Neergabby Community Assoc; Ocean Farms Community and Recreation Assoc; Redfield Park Community Assoc; Sovereign Hill Community Assoc; St John Ambulance and Woodridge Community Association.
The council also agreed to fund sporting requests totalling $38,324.00.
The council budget totals close to $15 million with rates returning only about 30 percent of the budget. Gingin still remains one of the lowest council rated municipalities in Western Australia.
The Sun City News has attended the last three or four annual budget meetings held by the Shire of Gingin, this year’s budget appeared to contain more detail and was easier to follow. Several councillors throughout and after the meeting
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