Council adopts Draft 2021-2022 budget

Published on 27 April 2021

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Bland Shire Council has adopted its 2021-2022 Draft budget, Operational Plan and Revenue Policy for public comment.

After being adopted at its monthly meeting on Tuesday night (20 April), all three documents are now on public exhibition up until Friday 21 May.

Some highlights of the draft budget include:

•           Rates income is based on a rate peg amount of 2.0 per cent.

•           User Charges and Fees have increased on average by 1.5 per cent.

•           Interest on Investments is based on an average of 0.90 per cent Investment Returns.

•           Wages have been prepared based on an increase of 2.0 per cent in line with the Local Government (State) Award.

•           Superannuation has been calculated at an increase of 0.5 per cent as per instructions from the Australian Taxation Office.

•           Insurances have been calculated at a 12 per cent increase from the previous year’s budget on advice from Council’s insurer, StateWide Mutual.

The Draft Operational Budget has been prepared in accordance with Council’s Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) and includes a 2021-2022 capital works program of $192,000 – excluding any possible grant works which will be funded from other Government departments.

Council has been most fortunate in receiving substantial grant funding over the past few years from both the State and Federal Governments. Those funds have been spread across the Shire with the villages receiving almost $1.8 million for a wide range of projects and it is expected that this level of funding will continue into the future.

While the Draft Budget shows a paper deficit of $5,011,988, this includes Council’s depreciation costs of almost $6.5 million. So, in essence, Council is projecting a pleasing cash surplus from operations of almost $1.5 million for the 2021/22 financial period.

“Council have made a concerted effort to reduce deprecation in recent years and will continue to regularly review its asset accounting strategies to ensure financial sustainability into the future,” Bland Shire Council General Manager, Ray Smith said.

During the public exhibition period, Council’s Draft Budget, Operational Plan and Revenue Policy are available from Council’s website at www.blandshire.nsw.gov.au, its offices at 6 Shire Street, West Wyalong or by contacting Council on 0269722266.

Councillors and the community will have the opportunity to comment on the draft documents during the public exhibition period which closes on Friday, 21 May 2021, and up until the deadline for the receipt of input at 5pm on Thursday 3 June 2021.

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