The City of Casey has adopted its Council Plan 2021-25 – Year 3 Review and Budget 2023/24 which set out our priorities and projects for the year ahead in line with our community's feedback.

Following a three-week public exhibition period of the draft documents, the following documents were adopted at last night’s Council meeting:

• Council Plan 2021-25 – Year 3 Review
• Annual Action Plan 2023/24
• Budget 2023/24
• 2023/24 Capital Works Program

In the meeting, City of Casey Administrator Mr Cameron Boardman confirmed that this year’s budget totals $542.26 million, including a $467.44 million operational budget and a $74.82 million Capital Works Program.

Mr Cameron Boardman also thanked those residents who took the time to review the corporate documents and provided input over the three weeks.

"Public exhibition is an important part of engaging with the community and it is a vital part of informing better decision making from Council,” Mr Boardman said.

City of Casey Administrator Mr Miguel Belmar confirmed a 3.5 per cent rates rise in line with the State Government’s rate cap, necessitated by steep rises in operating costs, but highlighted Council’s awareness that some ratepayers in the community may require assistance to meet these obligations.

“Council absolutely acknowledges that financial hardship is being felt throughout the community. Anyone needing to discuss their financial position with Council is invited to get in contact with Council via its website, where you can apply for a rates payment plan,” Mr Belmar said.

In light of recent tighter economic conditions, Council has endorsed a relief package for ratepayers as follows:

• Suspension of late payment penalty interest until 30 June 2023. This amounts to a cost of $600,000 to be funded from savings across Council’s budget.
• Deferment of legal action.
• Suspension of interest on approved arrangement-to-pay plans.

To further alleviate financial hardship, Council has introduced two other favourable changes since the draft budget was initially tabled.

Waste charge

After Council awarded the contract for recycling, the cost was $1 million less than estimated in the draft budget, making it possible to reduce the waste charge increase from 6 to 4 per cent.

Community grants

This year, demand for community grants and event funding was high. Alongside increased community need, it has been harder for community groups to raise funds and the cost of running community events has increased.

In response, Council has allocated an additional $135,000 to the existing community grants funding pool of $365,000, and an additional $100,000 to the existing event funding pool. This increase is cost neutral to the community as additional funding has been found from savings across the Budget 2023/24.

Capital Works Program

City of Casey CEO Glenn Patterson said that Council has been focused on finding a balance between financial sustainability and being responsive to the needs of the community as defined through the Shape Your City engagement outcomes and through feedback received during the public exhibition of the documents.

“The Budget 2023/24 sees Council committing to a year of consolidation through its Capital Works Program, with a view to the longer-term wellbeing of the community, by planning and acting now for a future that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.

“To respond to the challenges to this year’s Budget, brought about by external factors and significant cost escalations of around 11 per cent per annum, Council is consolidating its Capital Works program, with no new initiatives outlined in the Budget 2023/24,” Mr Patterson said.

Some key highlights of the Budget 2023/24 include:

• $57 million towards waste management services
• $45 million towards child, youth and family services
• $23 million towards community connection and wellbeing
• $22 million towards the road network
• $19 million towards parks and open spaces
• $11 million towards sports and leisure

Mr Patterson noted that factors influencing cost escalations to Council include increases to the cost of external contracts, capital works, inflation, cost-shifting from the State Government to the local government sector, and $9.6 million allocated to cover the State Government’s Waste Levy charges in 2023/24.

“The operational budget will allow for the delivery of crucial services across the City of Casey, including kindergarten, maternal and child health services, waste management, and infrastructure maintenance,” Mr Patterson said.

To find out more about the Budget 2023/24 and the suite of strategic documents, please visit our corporate planning and reporting microsite.