Hannah Hammoud
Despite strong opposition from three councillors, Hume council’s draft budget 2023-24 has been endorsed for public consultation and includes an average rate rise of 3.5 per cent alongside a $128 million capital works budget.
Cr Karen Sherry acknowledged the “challenging” financial climate that all residents are facing as the rising cost of living pressures continue to squeeze.
“Our investment in services and infrastructure will help our growing community continue to thrive, it will provide the support for our residents from birth through to their later life. It is financially responsible and considers all that our community needs,” Cr Sherry said.
A proposed capital works program of $128.25 million will go towards maintaining, upgrading and building community facilities, roads, footpaths, parks and reserves in 2023-24.
The capital works program touts major development projects across the municipality with more than $38 million injected into a number of projects, including the upgrade of the former Craigieburn Leisure Centre to a new indoor sports facility, Kalkallo North Community Hub, Greenvale indoor cricket centre and Seabrook Reserve Community Hub.
Council has proposed an average rate increase of 3.5 per cent, the largest increase permitted under the state government’s rate cap.
The draft budget includes the introduction of the waste services charge which will be removed from the general rates and be charged for separately. Hume council will also roll out the introduction of Food Organics/Green Organics (FOGO) bins.
Crs Trevor Dance, Carly Moore and Jodi Jackson each expressed their concerns over the inclusion of expensive items listed in the budget, each concurring that the draft budget was not ready for consultation in its current format and required further information.
The draft budget includes the allocation of over $38.42 million as part of the capital works budget over the next five years for an Enterprise Resource Planning Technology solution, which Cr Trevor Dance referred to as, “a fancy description for upgrading our IT systems.”
The technology investment will be subject to a further council report next month to confirm the final scope and allocation in the budget.
Cr Moore said that she could not support the technology investment in absence of all the details.
“… I do not think that it is financially responsible to include a $40 million item in our budget, whether it is a draft budget or not until we have had at least a detailed business case. This would not be good governance,” Cr Moore said.
Residents will be able to provide feedback on the draft budget from May 9 until May 30, and council with a submissions hearing scheduled for June 5.
Details: participate.hume.vic.gov.au/proposed-budget-2023-24
