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COUNCIL MEETINGS

Budget snapshot 2017/18

Mayor’s Message

I am very proud to present the 2017/18 Lockyer Valley Regional Council Budget to the community.

This Budget provides for $56.60 million in operating revenue and $55.20 million in expenditure, giving Council a predicted operating surplus of $1.4 million for the year.

For me personally, as Mayor, this is a financially responsible budget which will help Council cement its long-term financial sustainability.

The 2017/18 Budget centres on our core business. It’s about being responsible and accountable, while planning for the future. It is ensuring we have the money to not only pay down debt, but to put money aside for our future growth, and the ability to absorb unexpected shocks such as natural disasters.

Last year’s budget was about getting our house in order and laying firm foundations, and I am extremely proud of what we have managed to achieve as an organisation. The simple truth is that in the past, Council was effectively spending more money than it was bringing in.

As a Council, we have streamlined operations, looked at internal and external efficiencies and have been able to deliver a budgeted operating surplus of $1.4 million for the 2017/18 year. This builds upon the 2016/17 Budget in which we budgeted for, and will achieve an operating surplus.

In simple terms, we are now operating within our means.

Because we are on track to achieving an operating surplus, we have already paid an additional $700,000 in loan repayments and will pay down a further $700,000 in this year’s budget. We are then forecasting to maintain accelerated debt repayments each year thereafter. The operating surplus also provides much needed funding to spend on improving assets such as roads, buildings, plant and equipment.

As a result, we have been able to keep the general rate increase to 1.98 per cent for residential

properties, which for 65 per cent of all residents, is an increase of less than $50 a year, which is great news.

The general farming rate will see an increase in recognition that some farms are paying lower rates than residential properties. The general rate on farms will rise by 4.98 per cent, which for most farms will mean an increase of just under $150 for the year.

The Emergency Preparedness Levy has increased by $4 per year. The Waste (Bin) Collection Levy has increased by $10 per annum in line with contract cost increases, however the Waste Management Levy has decreased by $7 per annum. A $14 per year Environment Levy has been included for the 2017/18 year, which will partially fund Council’s environmental initiatives including Pest Management.

A $2 per annum levy to fund Council’s contribution to the South East Queensland Resilient Rivers Initiative has been included. This initiative aims to deliver projects to keep soil on the land and protect our catchments, all of which are vital in an agricultural area such as the Lockyer Valley.

This budget is about debt reduction and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the region. I am happy to announce our long-term projections show Council delivering a surplus in every budget for the next ten years which is a tremendous achievement, especially for a Council of our size.

Council has retained its rating concessions for pensioners and for ratepayers who pay their General Rates and Waste and Recycling Collection Charges in full by the due date.

The community has been vocal that Council operates within its means and I am certainly happy to announce that as a Council, we are doing just that. We have been actively engaging with and listening to the community and in doing so, we are putting additional funding towards parks and roads.

Our focus is about maintaining our current assets and ensuring they are upgraded when necessary and finding the right balance between meeting community expectations and delivering what we are financially able to deliver and maintain.

This budget will deliver $17.56 million in capital works projects including $10.18 million on roads, $408,000 on parks including the installation of new equipment and the renewal of current infrastructure, $1.42 million on maintaining and upgrading our current facilities including installing solar panels which will ultimately reduce our long term costs, $1 million on IT services including e-services which will make doing business with Council easier and faster and a further $177,000 to enhance our disaster management capabilities.

In addition to its capital budget, during the 2017/18 year Council will spend:

• $3.44 million on maintaining parks and gardens• $14.3 million on keeping our roads, bridges and footpaths in good repair• $947,000 on community grants, in kind support and donations to sporting and other not for profit groups and community events.

I believe this is a very fiscally responsible budget that ensures we protect and maintain the assets we currently have while continuing to pay down debt to future-proof our region.

I would like to thank my fellow Councillors, the Executive Leadership Team and Council staff for their roles in building the strong foundations for a bright future for the Lockyer Valley.

Cr Tanya Milligan,MAYOR, Lockyer Valley Regional Council

Capital expenditure - 17.56 M

Debt reduction

Where the money comes fromWhere the money goes