The City of Stonnington 2021-22 budget sets a framework for economic and community recovery, including the creation of a $1.89m COVID recovery reserve to continue to provide targeted community support as we rebound from COVID-19.
City of Stonnington Mayor, Cr Kate Hely, said the budget reflects the impact of COVID-19 on the community and the work to come to rebuild. While continuing to provide Stonnington residents with one of the lowest rate charges per property value in Melbourne.
"One of the principles of our newly endorsed Stonnington Community Vision 2040 outlines that Stonnington's ambition is to provide access to a variety of quality services and amenities for everyone within 20 minutes and this is a budget that positions us to embed that vision.
"Recent weeks in Melbourne and across Australia have taught us that COVID-19 is not behind us and we need to be able to continue to adapt to challenges.
"As we enter the 2021-22 budget period, Council must work to meet the short term needs of our residents while planning for the future of Stonnington.
"We need to continue our core operations, keep providing support where it is needed and look to bring people in our precincts to support our businesses.
"To support this and bolster our financial hardship support, our budget creates a $1.89 million COVID recovery reserve. This is the equivalent to last year's 2% rate waiver being re-introduced and will allow us to provide further targeted support to our community. I look forward to working with Councillors and our community to deliver this.
"This budget continues to provide Stonnington residents one the lowest average rates charges per property in Victoria while enabling much needed capital works projects and maintaining services to support our community and ensuring Stonnington remains an amazing place to be - now and into the future.
"An analysis of 2020-21 local government budgets showed Stonnington has the lowest average rate per property of Victoria's 79 councils when assessing rates paid on a $750,000 valued residential property. This budget maintains Stonnington's already low rates.
"We've also been able to see the first benefits of the Victorian Energy Collaboration, a green power initiative in partnership with 46 other Councils across Victoria. The initial $340,000 we've saved will be redirected to a spring cleaning and an upkeep blitz across our shopping precincts as well as increased waste education programs.
"I'm especially pleased about this because it's proof our commitment to sustainability and climate action can have positive economic and community benefits," added Cr Hely.
