Budget rate rise approval
Wes Hosking
30Jun08
KINGSTON Council's budget for next financial year has been given the green light, sealing a 6 per cent rate rise.
The $132 million budget was approved at a council meeting last Monday.
Clarinda ward councillor Arthur Athanasopoulos said the rate rise was below the Melbourne average and part of the council's debt-reduction strategy.
The budget, made up of $78.7 million from rates and $53.6 million in other revenue, commits $23.2 million for new capital projects (the Leader, June 2).
"That is a massive investment back into the community," Cr Athanasopoulos said.
But Hawker ward councillor Rosemary West said she could not support a rate increase above inflation (4.2 per cent for the March quarter). "I feel (it is) a time when a lot of people are suffering from economic uncertainty and trouble," Cr West said. Carrum Carrum ward councillor Topsy Petchey said a lesser rate increase was impossible without damaging services.
"Where do you start slashing those spendings and works?" she said. Councillors were also divided over claims Cr West's ward got more money than others over the past four years.
After the meeting, Cr West refuted the claim, saying a $630,000 regional soccer strategy for the city had been allocated to her ward.
