RATES will rise by 2.4 percent for Balranald Shire Council residents next year, according to the council’s draft budget.
The budget, and draft operational plan, will be out for comment until mid-June.
Big ticket items include the $3.2 million hostel expansion, a $4.18 million roads program and $18,000 for improvements at the Balranald Swimming Pool.
They are part of an $18.88 million budget, which is predicting a net surplus of $357, 617.
Rates will make up about $1.25 million of the budget, with grants to make up a majority.
“It is a financially sound budget,” Balranald Shire Council general manager Aaron Drenovski said.
“The big ticket items are the $3.2 million hostel extension, we are also looking at about 7km of new road construction and resealing — 7km is a big effort for our community.
“We are looking to do several of our boat ramps and a further 10km of reseals on our road network.
“We are very big on the roads, I guess our discovery centre was quite big for the last financial year and the one prior, and now we have quite a focus on infrastructure.”
The rate rise of 2.4 percent is in line with the rate peg that sets the maximum increase New South Wales councils can implement.
For more on this story, grab a copy of Wednesday’s Guardian (May 27).
