Wattle Range Council has made some amendments to its draft 2023/24 budget but will still increase its rate revenue by almost 8.5% in the coming 12 months.
The final version was endorsed at a special council meeting on July 13.
Deputy chief executive Paul Duka explained the need for some changes to the draft document.
The council was unable to secure a $280,000 State Government grant for co-funding the seawall upgrade near the former harbourmaster’s house at Beachport.
Following extensive lobbying from the seaside community, council has earmarked $30,000 for the detailed design of a footpath for Cape Buffon Drive at Beachport.
Urgent repairs are needed to the roof at the former stone classrooms of the Millicent Primary School and they are estimated to cost $35,000.
Erected in 1910, the building now houses the South East Family History Group research Centre and a portion of the National Trust’s Helen Hughes costume collection.
Higher occupancy rates at the Gladys Smith Early Learning Centre at Millicent are set to improve the council’s bottom line by $124,000.
Due to the cessation of cattle sales at the Millicent Saleyards from June 30, there will be a fall in income from yard fees while annual operating costs are set to fall by $96,000.
Council devoted four workshops to devising its 2023/24 financial blueprint and then a further hour at its July monthly meeting.
Rate revenue drawn from existing properties is forecast to increase by 7.9% in this period while council anticipates an additional 0.59% will come from new developments.
In all, Wattle Range Council expects to spend $33.93m in the next financial year and have an operating deficit of $2.27m.
Although planning is well advanced for a new council office on North Terrace, no final decision to proceed with its construction has yet been taken by Wattle Range Council.
Nevertheless, the 2023/24 budget anticipates the new Millicent council office will be built in stages and so it has set aside an initial sum of $3m for this period.
Another uncertainty has been created in recent weeks by the discovery of extensive leakage from the Millicent swimming lake.
Investigations into the cause and solution are under way with $600,000 for repairs set aside in the 2023/24 budget.
