$6 million capital works projects headline ‘balanced’ 2020/2021 Palmerston budget

PALMERSTON Council is aiming for a square budget in 2020-21 that includes dedicating more than $6 million to capital works

Will Green with some of his rescue dogs and closest mates, Bonnie, Yap and Betty at the Marlow Lagoon Dog Park ... the park will be a major beneficiary of Palmerston’s 2020/2021 budget

PALMERSTON Council is aiming for a square budget in 2020-21 that includes dedicating more than $6 million to capital works.

The capital works include upgrades to council’s popular Marlow Lagoon Dog Park worth $130,000, a $1.3 million upgrade of council facilities and buildings, $889,500 for parks and reserves and $250,000 to plant trees.

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Council’s Dark Spots and waste education programs will also receive some love, with $250,000 and $80,000 respectively allocated, while a public art program valued at $85,000 will add a splash of colour to the satellite city.

Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell said council would aim to operate a square budget with no surplus or deficit.

However, she said council had found efficiencies in the budget to ensure reserves would grow to enable several major projects, such as the Splashing Out swimming pool redevelopment and Where We Live Matters Zuccoli community Hub, to be completed in the coming years.

“We always budget for a balanced budget so at this stage there won’t necessarily be a surplus or a deficit, there can’t be a deficit,” Ms Pascoe-Bell said.

“There will be some money going back into reserves … so we can use it in forward years for other projects like the swimming pool.”

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the draft budget also includes a zero increase on rates and waste service charges for the 2020-21 financial year, meaning there will be no increase from 2019-20.

Ms Pascoe-Bell said it was important to look after the locals, particularly given news Australia was entering its first recession in three decades.

“Council will also hold or reduce its fees and charges, with no change to community service levels, while in some areas council is increasing its services,” she said.

“Probably, like most councils, we were already under way with our budget planning when COVID-19 kicked in. We had to very rapidly change our plans.

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“Council is carefully balancing the needs of our community with the aim of supporting our ratepayers and local economy.”

Ms Pascoe-Bell said the budget provided a clear direction for council’s next 12 months.

“Our community is at the centre of all we do, it’s about the liveability for our families and residents, opportunities for our local businesses, and the sustainability of our city,” she said.

Council’s draft budget and municipal plan, long-term financial plan and fees and charges are open for consultation until July 2.