Indigo Shire Council adopted its 2006/07 Budget at a meeting on Tuesday 25 July 2007.

The total amount of rates and charges collected by Council will increase 7% with General Rates increasing by 7.5%, Municipal Charge by 7% and Waste Management and Collection Charges by 4.4%. 

Included as part of that total increase is an approximate 1% growth from new properties in the Shire. Individual ratepayers, when they receive their rate notices, will not see an increase of 7.5% on last year’s total account. 

A revaluation of properties is in effect for this year and this, multiplied by the reduced rate in the dollar adopted by Council will see some properties rates reduce, whilst others will increase at a higher level than the 7.5%.

Indigo Shire Council Mayor Cr Peter Graham said Council received 10 submissions relating to the budget. 

He said in response to these submissions Council had slightly reduced the charges for meals on wheels, community meals and home care, but this had not had any significant effect on the whole budget. 

“The budget was therefore adopted as advertised,” he said.

“This is a very tight budget, bearing in mind that there had been a $169,000 reduction in Council’s grants due to the cessation of the National Competition Policy Grant from the State Government. 

“The $22M budget provides for a large range of services and activities, as well as the $4.7M capital works program.”

Council’s CEO Mr John Costello said Council was in a healthy operating position with a positive operating result of $490,000 for 2005/06 and a predicted $599,000 positive operating position for 2006/2007. 

He said this added to known grants for the coming year, would allow Council to undertake approximately $4.7M of capital works and still be in a reasonably strong financial position at the end of the financial year.

“The financial sustainability of Indigo Shire, like most other small shires shows an underlying deficit when depreciation of assets is taken into account.  Over time Council is reducing that underlying deficit as part of its strategic financial plan,” he said.

“Council will borrow $200,000 which will be utilised for projects such as the construction of the Gray Lane Bruarong Bridge, Sydney Road underground drainage in Beechworth, Chiltern floodplain improvements and Kiewa / Tangambalanga Pride of Place Program. 

“At the same time Council will repay $564,000 of principle outstanding on long-term loans leaving a balance at the end of the year of $3.2M.  This matches in with Council’s strategy to reduce its long-term borrowings over the next five years.

Details of the Capital Works program and other works programs can be obtained from Council’s Service Centres and will also be publicised in forthcoming information distributed with the rate notices and at various Council community forums.