A budget which included $61.8 million in capital works was adopted by the Greater Shepparton City Council at the last meeting in June. The approved operating budget was $147.4million.
The 2020/2021 Budget also includes a rate rise of 2.0 percent as per the rate cap and a 1.67 percent increase in kerbside collection charges, which are in accordance with Council’s previously adopted Rating Strategy.
Council has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the total impact on the 2020/2021 Budget is estimated to be $2.22M, which equates to a 10 percent impact to Council’s liquidity.
Highlights of the $61.8M capital works program include $19.52M for Buildings, including the construction of the new Shepparton Art Museum, $17.11M for Roads, including Maude Street Upgrade and Road Renewal Program and $3.92M for Drainage.
The operating budget sees $5.04M set for the Victoria Park Lake intersection works, a $550,000 contribution to the Museum of Vehicle Evolution (M.O.V.E) and a $300,000 contribution to the Mooroopna Integrated Early Learning Centre.
40 submissions from the community were taken into account when forming the final Draft Budget 2020/2021, with some of the submissions leading to changes in the Draft Budget.
These changes included an increased contribution to Shepparton Foodshare, Shepparton Search and Rescue and Shepparton Family and Financial Services, as well as a freeze on lux lighting charges for users of sporting fields in Greater Shepparton.
Council adopts 2020/2021 Budget
The Federal Government has recently announced $8.58 million in funding for the Maude Street Mall development as part of the Building Better Regions Fund. With the funding agreement yet to be finalised, further work will be required to determine the financial impact of this announcement for the 2020/2021 budget year.
You can view the adopted annual budget on the council website at Http://greatershepparton.com.au
