From the Office of the Mayor
Fiscally responsible budget in tough economic times
I have pleasure in providing you with the following information on income and projects included in the 2009/10 Budget, which was adopted by Council on Tuesday 30 June 2009.
The Town of Bassendean is committed to enhancing and protecting its natural environment and safe-guarding our community resources and its assets.
The 2009/10 Budget has been compiled using a number of reference documents that include:
- The Strategic Plan for the Future; and
- Strategic Financial Management Plan.
Both Plans have been considered and adopted by Council.
Where our money comes from?
The 2009/10 Budget provides for operating income totalling some
$15 million from the following sources:
| Rates | $8,100,000 |
| Grants | $4,470,000 |
| Fees and Charges of | $1,960,000 |
| Interest Earnings | $247,000 |
| Other | $381,000 |
2009/10 Rates Increase
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has indicated that the Annual CPI for March 2009 (Perth All groups) is 2.1%. The WALGA costing index for the same period shows an increase in costs of 2.4%.
This may be used as a guide to increase the rates income for the 2009/10 financial year. However, given the inclusion of the new Landfill Levy of $92,000 (or 1.2% of rates income), a new collective agreement for Staff as well as additional utility charges, the CPI does not provide sufficient scope to provide funding in the 2009/10 financial year.
Given the above factors, Council has adopted the budget utilising a 4.8% increase in the rateable income which has increased the rate in a dollar from 8.563 cents to 8.974 cents.
Sale of Land — Town Planning Scheme No. 4A
The 2009/10 Budget includes an amount of $1,190,000 for the sale of land and an amount of $250,000 for the purchase of land. This provides for a surplus of $940,000. The surplus of $940,000 is shown as follows:
| Proceeds of sale | $600,000 |
| Transfer to restrictive cash | $340,000 |
The amount of $600,000 will assist in the funding of the 2009/10 Capital Works program.
Where some of our money is spent
There are some $4.3 million of major Capital projects included in the budget, including:
| Road Resurfacing Program | $563,500 |
| Drainage Assets | $67,500 |
| Parks & Reserves | $1,650,000 |
| Building Improvements | $1,396,000 |
| Plant and Machinery | $613,500 |
| Furniture & Equipment | $65,000 |
| Total | $4,350,000 |
The $4.3 million has been funded from the following sources:
| Plant Replacement Program | $238,500 |
| Surplus and Obsolete Equipment | $5,000 |
| Metropolitan Regional Road Group | $146,831 |
| Roads to Recovery | $103,571 |
| Perth Bicycle Network | $50,000 |
| Community Sport and Recreation Facilities Funding | $62,500 |
| Lotteries West | $158,000 |
| Home and Community Care Funding | $331,000 |
| Office of Crime Prevention Graffiti Taskforce | $40,000 |
| Community Cultural and Arts Facilities | $15,000 |
| Regional & Local Community Infrastructure Program | $595,585 |
| Hyde Retirement Village Reserve Fund | $47,500 |
| Cash In Lieu Payments | $909,600 |
| Ashfield Soccer Club | $40,000 |
| Swan River Trust | $123,415 |
| Sale of Land | $600,000 |
| Rates income | $874,000 |
| Total | $4,350,000 |
Environmental Enhancement
The Town of Bassendean prides itself on the environmental enhancements that have been developed with the assistance of the EMRC and has included projects totalling $312,200. These include Bushland Management, Cities for Climate Protection, Solar Cities Program, Collective Biodiversity, Drainage Monitoring and Signage, Water Campaign, Green Fleet and Education, Future Proofing, and Weed Control.
Public Events
Public events to be held in the 2009/10 year total some $171,000 and these include Australia Day, NAIDOC Week, Anzac Day, Seniors’ Week, Perth Autumn Festival, Avon Descent and the Multicultural Festival. This year Council will also be holding free summer movies during the month of February 2010.
Cr Tina Klein, JP, Mayor
