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Budget Reveals Major Capital Expenditure
The City of Melville has adopted the 2011/2012 Budget, revealing significant capital expenditure of more than $16 million and a modest increase in general residential rates of 4.3 per cent, due to increases in utility costs.
Mayor Russell Aubrey said the 2011/2012 Budget had been prepared after careful consideration of the strategic, asset management, community and operational needs of the City.
“Significant challenges were experienced in preparing the 2011/2012 Budget due to major cost increases faced in electricity (up to 29.8 per cent), gas and fuel costs along with increases in insurance costs in response to the high claims experienced in the industry due to natural disasters throughout Australia,” he said.
“Overall, our cost increases this year are more than six per cent but we have absorbed a proportion due mainly to $1.4 million gained in cost efficiencies.
“In addition to this, the tight labour market in Western Australia has placed pressure on the cost of labour whether employed directly by the City or reflected in pricing from contractors.
“In spite of these significant cost increases, the increase in general residential rates will be a modest 4.3 per cent or $39, or 75 cents a week, for the average residential ratepayer.
Increases in income from other sources, along with productivity improvements, have helped this result to be achieved. We believe that this increase is lower than those being adopted by other comparable Cities.
“The 2011/2012 Budget maintains the City’s commitment to deliver more than 200 different products and services to its community. The ongoing challenge for the City is to ensure rates are kept as low as possible, while maintaining this high level of service delivery for residents.”
Some of the exciting projects this Budget will fund are:-
- $5.0 million for road and car park resurfacing projects
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$3.15 million for various road, car park and traffic management improvements
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$2.72 million for plant and vehicle replacements
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$1.96 million for major maintenance/renewal works on City owned buildings
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$1.35 million for replacement/new footpaths
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$795,000 for environmental and foreshore improvement projects
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$680,000 for renewal of reticulation and pumps
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$560,000 for streetscapes and precinct improvement
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$473,000 for park improvements
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$442,000 for the replacement of furniture and equipment
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$300,000 for replacement of playground equipment
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$200,000 for jetties and boardwalks refurbishment works
The amount of total capital expenditure actually funded from rates income is $16.4 million. Total rates income is $49.1
million of which a healthy 33.4 per cent will be used to fund capital expenditure.
Detailed budget documentation is available at all City of Melville libraries, the City of Melville Civic Centre or online at
For further information about the more than 200 products and services that the rates deliver go to www.melvillecity.com.au