The City of Bunbury has revealed the key details of its February 2018 budget review.
According to the City, the council adopted the 2017/18 budget in July 2017 with the total set for $90.8 million.
The figure factored in $39.7m in capital works, $2.3m in debt reduction and $48.8m in operating expenditure.
The budget then increased to $92.1m following the October 2017 budget review.
Following the February 2018 review, the budget is expected to increase by $631,000 to $92.73m.
Due to changes made by the review, the budget surplus on June 30, 2018 will decrease from $268,781 to $267,942.
The council carried the February 2018 Budget Review 8/3, with councillors Brendan Kelly, Betty McCleary and Karen Steele voting it down.
Mr Kelly said the elected members had not been formally advised that: “funds required from the Building Restoration and Maintenance Reserve to purchase Souths first had to be sourced from the budget review.”
He said councillors should have all facts made available to them before making decisions on this scale.
In devising the Draft Integrated Financial Plan 2018/19 to 2032/33, council opted to approve such requests as:
- Increased support for the Anzac Day Working Group from $4,579 to $20,000 per year.
- Support for the Bunbury Geographe Steering Group Alliance at a cost of $25,000 per year.
- A $15,000 contribution for replacement cricket practice nets at Forrest Park.
- A contribution of $50,000 to the Bunbury Meals on Wheels and Senior Citizens Centre in 2018/19.
The Council deferred support for the MARCIA key project and the installation of retractable traffic bollards.
An alternative motion was passed for the Youth Advisory Council to investigate options for a new skate park.
In his presentation to council, Jonathan Dixon said a new skate park was needed to provide more options for Bunbury youth.
Dixon said many councils around WA had made great strides in developing new skate parks.
The council threw their support behind the expansion of path networks, the installation of shade sails in open spaces, increased funding for the Bunbury City Band, and an increase in artworks for the City Arts Collection.
The City had originally requested for the council to not support these options.
City of Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan said the City worked to provide a complete budget document before the end of the financial year.
“The ultimate budget is council’s document. The staff’s job is to present a draft budget based on what they know and what our plans are,” he said.
“The staff know most, if not all, of the operational costs so they are pretty well fixed.
“We rely on the forward estimates and we’ve planned ahead for major roadworks, drainage works, footpath construction etc.
“When you look at the overall budget, there’s not a lot left for discretionary expenditure. What we try to do is provide elected members with the opportunity to put forward projects we would like the officers to consider.”
Mr Brennan said some projects were recommended for approval based on affordability.
“We must look at the capacity for our community to be able to pay increased rates, our capacity to borrow, and where we need to be spending money based what the community has asked us to focus on,” he said.
“In early July, we will have the budget ready for adoption and that will set the rate increase, our borrowings, and our program for the full 12 months.”
Mr Brennan said the current year’s budget was impacted by the WA Government’s $12m donation for the Transforming Bunbury Waterfront project.
The review was brought to council’s attention during the ordinary meeting of council on Tuesday, March 27.
The 2018/19 budget will go up for adoption at the end of the current financial year.
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