Latest rate hike: Mayor says ‘it’s affordable’ council budget unveiled

Alex de Vos
Geelong rates will rise 4.9 per cent to cover a $64 million capital works program and an $8.3 million jump in council salaries.
City of Greater Geelong Mayor John Mitchell labelled the hike, which is set to sting ratepayers an extra $1 per week, “affordable”.
“We anticipate a 4.9 per cent increase will prove to be one of the lowest in the state,” Cr Mitchell said.
Melbourne City Council’s rates will rise a modest 1.9 per cent while delivering an $84 million funding boost to the City’s infrastructure.
Melbourne’s city is traditionally the highest revenue-raising municipality in Victoria.
Cr Mitchell blamed the Federal Government’s enterprise bargaining agreement for the jump in council wages, which have risen from $85 million to $93 million.
Council also expected revenue from fees and charges to rise, with an eight per cent increase set to sting users $2.7 million more than last year.
Under the City of Greater Geelong’s 2010/2011 budget which was unveiled this week, childcare fees will rise $15 a week while parking fees have increased to $2 an hour.
Animal control and registrations have jumped three per cent and a 12-month membership to the City’s leisure and outdoor aquatic centres will sting residents an extra $45.
The Independent revealed a fortnight ago that the cost of dumping rubbish at Geelong tips could also jump up to 50 per cent in July under a new environment landfill levy.
Dumping a trailer full of rubbish will now increase from $21 to $32.50 at the North Geelong and Drysdale resource recovery centres.
Big ticket items in the City’s capital works program included $4.2 million to undertake stage one of the Geelong Ring Road Employment Precinct and $4 million to redevelop the Yarra Street Pier.
Other projects included $11.9 million for roads, $3.5 million for drains and $2.5 million for footpaths.
Libraries throughout the municipality will share in a $3.5 million makeover fund while $1.3 million will be injected into the 2010 UCI Road World Championships.
Community services funding included $30.7 million for aged and family services including day care and child health.
Cr Mitchell said he was “proud” of this year’s budget.
He said the budget reflected the “diverse funding priorities of a large and growing municipality”.
“The City remains in a strong financial position – we are budgeting for a recurrent surplus of $4 million to provide additional funding for the capital works program,” Cr Mitchell said.
“Despite increased to external costs the council has worked very hard on this budget to avoid passing on these cost increases to ratepayers.”