City of Mount Gambier adopted its 2018/2019 Annual Business Plan and Budget at a special meeting on Tuesday 3 July 2018. Council will spend a total of $38.4million - $30.2million in operating expenditure and $8.2million in capital expenditure - on the delivery of services and programs, maintenance of assets and the development of new and upgraded assets.
City of Mount Gambier Mayor Andrew Lee said the budget incorporates Council’s Community Plan, the Futures Paper 2016 - 2020, its strategies, initiatives, services and projects with the Long Term Financial Plan, and Asset and Infrastructure Management Plans.
“This ensures that we optimise the mix of services, infrastructure and facilities for the benefit of the community,” said Mayor Lee.
I think this is a fair and responsible budget with a forecast surplus of $328,000 and no loan borrowings for the fifth year in a row. - City of Mount Gambier Mayor Andrew Lee
Key influences and projects within the budget include the extension of the Rail Trail, the implementation of the signage strategy, waste and recycling initiatives with a major focus on economic development, continued investment in promoting Mount Gambier as a visitor destination and the delivery of arts, culture, heritage and youth strategies.
“Importantly, we continue to maintain our infrastructure ensuring our roads, footpaths and drainage network are in excellent condition.”
The Mayor indicated that Council expects to meet its financial targets over the term of the plan and has the financial capacity to continue to satisfy community service demands, with flexibility to respond to changing circumstances. “Council’s Long Term Financial Plan indicates a 4.5 per cent increase in rate revenue and when growth is assessments is taken into account this will result in an average residential rate increase of approximately 3.28 per cent for 2018/2019.”
“We remain about $160 on average less in residential rates than other regional cities in South Australia and we are still able to deliver excellent services to the community,” said Mayor Lee.
Media contact: Media and Communications Coordinator Sharny McLean on (08) 8721 2401 or smclean@mountgambier.sa.gov.au
