Orange City Council is in a solid financial position going into the next financial year, after last night's (17 June) Council meeting adopted a balanced budget.
Last night's Council meeting adopted its budget one month after the draft income and spending plans were put on exhibition for community comment.
Around 600 people visited the YourSay Orange community engagement website to find out more about the budget or leave a comment. Another written 36 submissions were received from local community groups and individuals.
After community feedback and a number of Council motions, last night's meeting also added a number of changes to the original draft budget.
These include a subsidy for local businesses to install ramps at the front of their stores, and support for scanning of the CWD photo archive by the Historical Society.
The cost of the extra measures will be met by savings from operational budgets during the next financial year as well as delays to some expenditure. An increase to the 'Small Donations' budget will be paid for by introducing a $20/night fee for the currently free RV-Friendly camping at the Showground.
Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said the Council's financial management will continue to face serious challenges.
"The Council's sound fiscal management can be seen in a continuing trend of reducing of the operating deficit from $2.4 million three years ago, to $186,451 this year, to a balanced budget in the year ahead," Cr Tony Mileto said.
The NSW Government's Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) have set the maximum allowable rate increase at 4%. This rate cap means:
- average residential rates & charges will increase by $2.13 per week or $110.59 per
- average business rates & charges will increase by 93 cents per week or $48.46 per year.
"It's also worth remembering that the NSW Valuer General has recently sent new land values for Orange to be used for setting rates in the coming financial year. This means that not every rate payer will get a 4% increase - some will pay more, some less depending on their valuation.
"I'd also encourage Orange's older residents to make sure they're taking advantage of pensioner rebates," Cr Mileto said. "Eligible pensioners receive a rebate of $425 off their rates & water accounts co-funded by the NSW Government & Council. Council also provides a further rebate of 5% for rates & water accounts which gives an average total discount of around $550.00 per year."
With this budget, the Council will begin or continue to work on a number of major projects including:
- Orange Sporting Precinct $75m*
- Orange Regional Conservatorium $33.5m*
- Road construction $4.5m
- Cycleway construction $100K
- Footpath rehabilitation and construction $640k
*total spending over a number of years.
As well as the budget, last night's Council adopted the latest edition of the Community Strategic Plan (CSP), along with other Integrated Planning & Reporting documents.
"The CSP is the key platform that's produced in the months following the last election, that will guide the Council's work for the next four years," Cr Tony Mileto said. "There's always a big round of community meetings and events that helps produce this document, but I'm pleased to say that this time it was biggest ever conversation with the community when it comes to participating numbers.
"That level of involvement gives Council the confidence needed to get on with the aims that the CSP has puts its finger on. In just one example, there was a clear call from the community for the Council to work on providing more indoor play spaces for local children and young people. That's now a target for this current term, and we're already looking at the options."
