General manager Max Kershaw said this week that the past several years budgets have focused on building community capacity with such being underpinned by balancing the budget, continuing community engagment with the community and involving special interest groups in policy development.
He said “Council has encouraged collaborative stake holder partnerships and continues to build these partnerships”.
The proposed draft budget comprises $19 million dollars with capital works accounting for $7.55 million up from $5.217 million from last year.
There are several major projects in the new budget with $2.447 million to be spent on roads in 2015 compared to $1.648 million in 2014.
$2.5 million will be allocated to Main St projects in 2015 compared to $.9 million in 2014. Cuts will be made to plant from 2014 of $.9 million down to $.612 million in 2015. The only two areas to not receive an increase in funding are economic affairs and office equipment.
The proposed round-about on the intersection of Station and Albury St has a projected cost of $1.45 million of which the Roads and Maritime Services will be funding via a grant.
After allocating $30,000 for skate park design and planning in the 2013/2014 budget council has proposed an additional $200,000 to the project, bringing it closer to fruition for the committee and interested user groups.
$100,000 has been provided in a state government grant funding for LEP studies of residential and rural land with another $5,000 for the LEP development.
The Federal Governments freeze on Federal Assistance Grants for the next four years will translate in to a cumulative amount of $696,967 that won’t make it in to Harden Shire’s coffers during this period.
The entire draft budget is on public exhibition at the Harden Shire Council and the public is invited to make submissions by Wednesday June 18 before the Budget comes before the monthly meeting.