Public consultation is now open for the 2023-24 Town of Gawler Annual Business Plan & Budget.
The budget is really what drives the whole financial year for Councils. It outlines the initiatives, projects, capital works, infrastructure needs, staffing costs and all other expenses, as well as income from rates, grants and borrowings a council will go through for the next 12 months.
For the 2023-24 Financial Year, a $45 million budget is forecast. Over 60% of income that Council receives is from our ratepayers. As it stands, the average rate for ratepayers will increase by 7.5% from last year, or 5.2% more specifically for residential properties.
There are some exciting projects planned too - including the redevelopment of the Gawler and District Netball Courts, a new playground at Reid Reserve, new Christmas decorations, as well as ongoing maintenance of potholes, footpaths and roads.
But this is all still in draft format - it is now up to our community to have your say.
The current environment is tough for many members of our community, and after speaking with many community members, I favour cutting costs to reduce the increase to rates - to keep them as affordable as possible for our community.
I think we can do better than the 7.5% average increase to rates.
Council staff and Council Members have cut costs, however as the current draft stands, instead of reducing rates to counter-act the costs cut (over $500,000) - the overall deficit of the budget has been reduced.
As part of the current community consultation, you can let your Council know whether you’d like to see Council’s deficit reduced - or your rate rise reduced. Savings have been made either way, and now it’s time for our community to have their say.
The document is fairly easy to read, and understandable. Providing feedback is also very straightforward!
This budget will affect everyone in our community, particularly in these difficult financial times for many of us. So, take some time to read through the Business Plan & Budget, and have your say.
Click on this link to read the document: https://www.gawler.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0021/1338510/Draft-Annual-Business-Plan-and-Budget-2023-2024-updated.pdf
And this link to provide your feedback: https://www.gawler.sa.gov.au/your-voice/consultations/202324-annual-budget-and-business-plan?fbclid=IwAR3ZqNcW5TLplcHE29IgQDXXKBWXPBpmYOhouWLqczji2RmCPrhtXgsKEcI
You have until 29 May to have your say, and I encourage you to do so! I am genuinely here for the community, and community consultation is a very effective way of listening to what the community has to say. So, please, have a read and then have your say.
This can be a big topic, and I am still learning, but if you would like to have a chat about anything to do with the budget - please feel free tor each out, message me over social media, email me on: cr.white@gawler.sa.gov.au or give me a call on 0458 141 941 and I’d love to hear from you.
This is your chance to have your say on the shape of our town for the next 12 months.
Views are my own and not that of the Town of Gawler
Authorised by E. White PO Box 331 Gawler SA 5118
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