2015-16 Community Budget Report
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2015-16 Community Budget Report Building for the future Contents • Scenic Rim Community Budget Report ...................... 3 • Rates & Charges ........................................................................................................................24 Introduction Revenue Strategy Legislative Framework Rating Environment Your Council Revenue Statement Corporate Plan & Planning Framework • Operating Budget ...............................................................................................................2727 • Budget Highlights .............................................................................................................. .......97 Recurrent Revenue Council delivers $74.9 million 2015-16 budget Recurrent Expenditure Road infrastructure investment remains key Operating Position Building bridges creates legacy for future • Capital Budget .............................................................................................................................2828 Mission accomplished for disaster restoration Capital Funding Vibrancy funds boost for communities Capital Expenditure Drainage improvements for communities Capital Works Program 2015-16 Community facilities benefit in budget Beautifying our parks and gardens • Budgeted Financial Statements 2015-16 ...............3131 Projects put towns on right path Community grants build social fabric • Operational Plan 2015-16 ............................................................................3737 Supporting our emergency services • Financial Sustainability Strategy 2016-25 ........79 $20,000 to maintain healthy and active lifestyles Planning scheme nearing completion • Budget Documentation .................................................................................... 114 Council libraries continuing improvements Revenue Statement Support for regional events Revenue Policy Environmental programs to nurture nature Debt Policy • Cover photo Newman Bridge across the Albert River at Darlington in 2014. The timber bridge was replaced with a concrete structure as part of Council’s capital works program. 2 Introduction It gives me great pleasure to This has required strong spent exclusively on the delivery introduce Scenic Rim Regional leadership and decisions which of disaster restoration programs. Council’s 2015/16 Budget, my have not always been popular eighth as Mayor and the final to ensure our service levels In 2015-16 Council will continue budget of the 2012-16 term of to the community have been to progress the shared vision Council. In addition to laying maintained and the organisation for the Scenic Rim captured in the Community Plan through out a financial road map for the has remained financially initiatives such as our region forthcoming year and beyond, it sustainable, again a long way wide Vibrant and Active Towns is also an opportunity to reflect from where we started in 2008. and Villages project, Million Trees on our past achievements and The first two terms of Council program and the continued how we intend to build on these. have laid a strong foundation for A message from development of a new unified the future and a positive legacy. Building remains at the forefront Cr John Brent, Mayor planning scheme for the Scenic Rim. of our commitment to deliver the ageing timber bridges within The Budget bottom line for the the infrastructure and services the Scenic Rim. We will have forthcoming financial year will Council remains committed to needed by the Scenic Rim achieved this within the space of be $79.4 million, with more than working with business, industry community, with Council making six years, an impressive feat by half of Scenic Rim’s residential and government to generate jobs another record investment in any measure. ratepayers receiving a general and opportunities in our region, roads and bridges in 2015-16 of rate rise of 2.5% or less, the particularly through our support It has been a long journey from $22.68 million. This represents lowest since amalgamation. for major economic catalysts the formative years of Council a funding increase of more than such as the Beaudesert Town to our present outlook and one For the first time in six years, 40% over the past six years, up Centre Bypass in partnership which has been defined by Council’s Budget will not from $16 million in 2010-11. with the State. constant change, particularly include significant funding The maintenance and reductions in the level of financial under the Natural Disaster Relief improvement of our bridge support from other levels of and Recovery Arrangements network is an important focus government, which has required (NDRRA). In past years this of this expenditure and by the the organisation to become more funding bolstered what would be end of 2015/16, we expect to resilient and reliant on its own our normal budget bottom line have replaced close to 20% of sources of revenue. by approximately 30% but was Scenic Rim Regional Council’s growing regions of Queensland. funding assistance under the 2015-16 Budget reflects the Natural Disaster Relief and organisation’s determination to Council’s projects and initiatives Recovery Arrangements for effectively manage infrastructure for the forthcoming year are contract capital works to restore and service delivery for the underpinned by a $79.4 million damaged infrastructure. Scenic Rim community in a Budget. Our continuing financial manner which is both financially At first glance, this outcome approach sees us constantly sustainable and responsible. is more modest than recent reviewing our resourcing and Our performance as a budgets, but in 2015-16 Council processes to ensure the work prudent fiscal manager has will return to what is best we do represents value for been acknowledged by the A message from described as a normal operating money for our community. Queensland Audit Office, Craig Barke, CEO environment for the first time In this regard, I acknowledge which last month again ranked since the region was beset term position remains a key the commitment of Council’s the organisation among the by three consecutive years of objective of the organisation and staff in working in partnership most financially sustainable disaster events in 2010-11, this outlook provides a strong with the community to deliver on local government areas 2012 and 2013. foundation for Council to build the outcomes captured in the in Queensland for a third Scenic Rim Community Plan. successive year. upon in meeting the growing Budget outcomes over the past needs of the Scenic Rim, which several years have included A financially sustainable long- remains one of the fastest a substantial component of 3 Legislative Framework Scenic Rim Regional Council is required to prepare an annual budget in accordance with the requirements of Part 3 of the Local Government Act 2009. This legislation is the framework which governs the system of financial management that must be established for Council to ensure it is financially sustainable. Section 169 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 states that a local government’s budget for each financial year must include: • financial statements for the financial year for which it is prepared and the next 2 financial years • a long-term financial forecast • a revenue statement • a revenue policy • each of the relevant measures of financial sustainability for the financial year for which it is prepared and the next 9 financial years: 1. asset sustainability ratio 2. net financial liabilities ratio 3. operating surplus ratio • the total value of the change, expressed as a percentage, in the rates and utility charges levied for the financial year compared with the rates and utility charges levied in the previous budget Section 169 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 also states the budget must be consistent with the following documents: • 5-year corporate plan • annual operational plan Council also produces a number of other documents to meet the requirements of legislation and guide its budget process. These documents include: • Register of Fees and Charges • Investment Policy • Debt Policy Revisions to the Local Government Act 2009 were introduced in the Local Government and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012. These changes reinforced the responsibilities of mayors in providing a strategic role in the economic, social and environmental management of a local government area. Under Section 12 (4b) of the Act, the Mayor’s responsibilities now include “preparing a budget to present to the local government”. 4 Your Council DIV DIV 3 1 DIV 2 MAYOR DEPUTY MAYOR Cr John Brent Cr Virginia West Cr Nigel Waistell Cr Nadia O’Carroll [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ph 5540 5105 Fax 5540 5103 Ph 5540 5403 Fax 5540 5103 Ph 5540 5401 Fax 5540 5103 Ph 5540 5402 Fax 5540 5103 DIV 4 Mutdapilly Peak Mt Walker Crossing Harrisville Warrill View 6 Kagaru Cr Jennifer Sanders Rosevale Munbilla Tamborine [email protected] Silverdale Ph 5540 5404 Fax 5540 5103 Wyaralong Allenview Roadvale Dam Wyaralong Eagle Veresdale Scrub 1 Heights Kalbar 2 North Gleneagle Tamborine Fassifern Bromelton DIV 5 Tarome Aratula BEAUDESERT BOONAH Dugandan Il-bogan 4 Canungra Lake Moogerah Mt Alford Kooralbyn Laravale Kerry Cr Rick Stanfield Beechmont [email protected] Croftby 5 Ph 5540 5405 Fax 5540 5103 Maroon 3 Dam Maroon Darlington Rathdowney Carneys Hillview Creek Barney View Lamington DIV 6 Running Creek Cr Duncan