Cr Sam Misho wants Hume council to implement a Local Amenity Fund to address equality issues in budget funding across the suburbs.
Passed at the 13 October council meeting, Cr Misho seeks to take 10 per cent of the annual rates revenue by ward, and dedicate it to suburb-specific programs, excluding day-to-day operations and city-wide programs.
His notice of motion followed after a report was tabled earlier in the meeting, which was intended to reveal the rates per suburb and how much funding is allocated to each suburb.
It was meant to illustrate the distributions of rates revenue and other funding across suburbs to provide insights into the equality and rationale behind current and future investment planning across the municipality.
“Importantly, the report confirms that capital works and operating investments are not distributed by suburb or ward, but rather based on council plan priorities, asset condition and renewal needs, population growth, infrastructure demand and long-term financial sustainability,” Cr Misho said.
“This is an evidence-based approach but it also means some communities may feel they are missing out when they don’t see visible investment nearby.”
Cr Misho’s follow up notice of motion will also refer priority packages for Roxburgh Park, Meadow Heights and any other suburb with little investment to be brought to the 2026-27 draft budget.
Cr Misho said suburbs like Broadmeadows and Sunbury, who pay a higher amount of rates due to the expanding population, are receiving significant investment over the next four years, however the same can’t be said about other suburbs.
“In Meadow Heights, nearly 15,000 residents (will raise) about $25 million in rates revenue over four years, yet the planned capital works expenditure over the same period is only $2.8 million,” he said.
Cr Misho said the Local Amenity Fund will be a simple concept to address resident’s concerns.
“(We’ll retain) 10 per cent of the rates revenue raised in each suburb to fund small, high impact works that residents feel every day,” he said.
This would cover street parking improvements, bins, public toilets, zebra crossings, footpaths and more.
The fund will be investigated at council’s upcoming budget planning weekend.
