Located approximately 25 kilometres southeast of Melbourne’s CBD, Knox City Council recently adopted a long term financial strategy, putting in place a five year plan that will improve its financial and environmental sustainability.
Mayor Jim Penna said he was proud that Council had been open and honest with the community, setting out a transparent plan to deal with the two biggest challenges it faces.
“Residents and ratepayers know what to expect from Knox in the next five years and the decisions we make over that time will be measured against the standards that we have set in our Long Term Financial Strategy,” he said.
“The strategy ensures Council has the funds necessary to meet the needs of its community and establishes a transparent plan about how rates will be raised over the five year period. Rate increases have been set at around four per cent per annum for the next five years and a two per cent infrastructure levy has been set for the next three years.”
The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has indicated that Knox’s projected rate increase is below the expected metropolitan average.
“Knox’s rates are in line with the Statewide increase this year, and in many cases are lower than similar Councils in Melbourne,” Mayor Penna said.
Prior to adoption, the strategy was released to the community for comment. Mayor Penna said Council spoke to many residents and community groups and as a result made one significant change – the introduction of a $1.2 commitment to climate change in 2007/2008.
“The community has made it clear that we need to do more to tackle climate change, and Council agrees,” he said. “The community also said that we should be making savings to meet the growing needs of our infrastructure, and we are.
“In the past three years our spending to maintain our roads, drains, footpaths, parks and buildings has increased, while spending on operational items has proportionally reduced.
“We have tightened our own belts to help bridge the infrastructure gap. Combining these savings with the two per cent infrastructure levy will ensure that we have the funds necessary to meet the needs of our community now and into the future.”
As a result of the strategy, by 2011/2012 the Knox community will see:
- a 45 per cent reduction in Council’s greenhouse gas emissions
- a 98 per cent increase in roads funding
- a 145 per cent increase in drainage expenditure
- a 57 per cent increase in funding for bikes and shared paths.
“Overall capital funding will increase from just under $17 million to $23.5 million,” Mayor Penna said. “Knox residents need to know that for every extra dollar raised, more will be put into our infrastructure.”
