Maroondah Council plans cuts to aged and disability services but more cash for new Ringwood offices in draft budget
A council in Melbourne’s east has defended its extra spending on fitting out its new offices — revealing an extra half a million dollars will go to solar panels and to achieve a ‘Green Star’ rating.
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UPDATE: Maroondah Council will splash out on solar panels for its new offices while making budget cuts for other services in the next financial year.
The council will move to new $20 million offices at Ringwood Town Square later this year and spend $3 million of its own cash to fit it out.
It originally set aside $2.5 million when it compiled last year’s budget.
Mayor Mike Symon said the extra $500,000 would go towards solar panels and “enhanced sustainability initatives” to give the building a ‘Green Star’ rating.
Cr Symon said the panels would lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions and utility costs at the offices.
The council has blamed the forthcoming council elections for a $459,000 increase to the budget of its governance department.
Cr Symon said the figure was a “mandatory cost” for the Victorian Electoral Commission to conduct the October 24 poll.
The council also said a change in providers has led to a $175,000 reduction in the budget of its aged care and disability services department.
Cr Symon said the reduced budget was due to a transfer to the Federal Government’s Commonwealth Home Support Program.
He said the switch would not lead to a reduction in services to the Maroondah community.
The council will reduce spending on its customer service department by $180,000 by leaving it Braeside Ave offices, leaving its customer service desks at the REALM library in Ringwood and Croydon’s Civic Centre.
It has also forecast a $912,000 drop in spending at its Karralyka Centre due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, but has set aside $1.2 million to begin a redevelopment.
Last week, readers on Maroondah Leader’s Facebook page were unimpressed with the council’s proposed budget and the increased spend on its new base.
Rhonda Jones wrote: “Totally the wrong decision at the worst possible time. At no time is it acceptable to reduce services while feathering their own nests.”
Karla Brendal wrote: “Jobs and community funding should always come before a pretty building”, while Valme Jacobs felt there was “nothing wrong with the old building”.
In a discussion about the new offices on the Maroondah Ratepayers and Local Political News Facebook page, Andrew Harriott wrote: “I know for a fact they have been spending money on extras and variations like drunken sailors!”
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The council has listed a two per cent rates increase in line with the State Government’s cap.
But there will be a small increase to get rubbish collected, with costs to go up by $19.50 for residents with a standard 120-litre bin.
The council’s savings have taken a heavy hit due to coronavirus and it forecast losing $5 million in April.
But the council has since revised its expected surplus from $0.8 million to $1.3 million following the draft budget’s release.
The public can have their say on the draft budget until July 17 at the council’s Your Say Maroondah website.