The Mayor's Column
I am sure you would like to have a say in how your rates will be spent in Mosman in the next financial year. Recently Council held a special meeting to debate and adopt the draft budget for 2008/09.
Parks, gardens, bushland, ovals and open space will be maintained with nearly $2M.
Council’s Environmental Contract (CEC) reaches its ninth year with Council resolving to ask the community and the Department of Local Government for an extension of five years. Council has been very successful in attracting grants, but they are generally matched dollar for dollar. A number of significant seawall and stormwater quality projects are still to be completed and the extra revenue will ensure that Council’s General Fund will not be impacted.
Community services, the heart of our community, will have funding maintained at ’07 levels for the Library and Aged, Children’s and Youth Services.
Council’s three-tiered programme of works at Cross Street estimated at $5.5M is well under way, with the outdoor netball court project scheduled for completion in July 2008. The next stage, refurbishment of the old Drill Hall, should be completed in late 2008, with the final stage, the indoor sports facility set down for 2009/2010.
It is important to point out that this entire project is funded from Section 94 contributions, not from Council’s general fund. These are the contributions which flow from developments for Councils to spend on open space and facilities such as this, which are under threat from proposed state government changes. The indoor sports part of the project could be seriously jeopardised. I urge residents to support our Keep It Local campaign.
The State Government has allowed Councils to increase rates by 3.2% which will add an average of $33 to residential rates.
The draft Budget has a surplus of $160,000 which provides the impetus for Council improving its Working Capital position and achieving one of its ten-year objectives of a 2:1 ratio and a $500,000 Working Capital surplus.
The 2008/09 Draft Budget is currently on exhibition until 2 June on our website or in hard copies available at Council and the Library.
We welcome your comments.
Cr Denise Wilton, Mayor of Mosman
