A 4.4 per cent rate rise didn’t sit well with Melton councillor Lara Carli.
For the third year in a row, the Watts ward representative voted against the council’s budget.
During a heated debate at last week’s meeting, Cr Carli said residents would feel the “pinch” of this year’s rate rises.
“We all know there are residents out there who are struggling. I can tell you [the rate increase] would hurt,” she said.
Cr Kathy Majdlik said residents she spoke to were “very happy” with the services council delivered.
“To be against this budget, our community needs to know what Cr Carli is basically saying … she does not support the services in this budget, such as the Taylors Hill pedestrian crossing being installed to make the lives of our children and residents safer,” she said.
Cr Carli interjected. “That’s not what I said. I did say that I support the projects, but I believe we could still be delivering while capping rates. Did she understand?”
Cr Majdlik responded: “Without this budget being supported, our community would not benefit from the services and capital infrastructure it’s delivered.”
The council will raise about $93.1 million in rates this financial year, $11.1 million from fees and fines, $9.5 million from cash contributions, $62.5 million from non-cash contributions, $29.3 million from grants, and $5.7 million from “other” sources.
Mayor Sophie Ramsey said the council always strived to deliver a financially viable budget.
“We look at [what needs to be done] in such a global way. It’s the priorities that come to the top and these are the must-dos,” Cr Ramsey said. “Then we work out what our capacity to pay is.”
The rapid growth of the municipality meant the council had to increase its spending to deliver vital infrastructure projects and services, Cr Ramsey said.
About $36.6 million will be spent on new capital works projects, while $7.7 million has been set aside to continue work on the Bridge Road Reserve’s athletics and hockey facility and pavilion, at Atherstone, which is expected to be completed next year.
Cr Carli said she believed the council could have saved millions of dollars by delaying investment on this project.
“At the time the Atherstone project was being delivered there weren’t many residents living in the area and there was only one hockey team that would utilise it and one athletics team,” she said.
“I hope next year’s budget will be fairer than the budgets that have been delivered; I’d like our ratepayers to be given a fair go.”
