June 9, 2014
After weeks of discussions, the 2015-16 South Burnett Regional Council Budget will be formally presented to Councillors to peruse at 9:00am on Wednesday (June 10).
South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann told southburnett.com.au that in some Councils this would be the first time councillors would get a glimpse of a proposed Budget, but that was not the way in the South Burnett.
“They have been involved in the development process all the way through,” he said.
However, the “presentation” was a formality required by law.
The actual Budget Meeting, when the Budget is unveiled to the public and voted on by Councillors, will be held on Monday, June 29, at 9:00am.
In last year’s Council Budget, a CPI rate rise of 2.75 per cent was forecast for 2015-16.
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Mayor Wayne Kratzmann is heading off to Canberra later this week to attend the 2015 National General Assembly of Local Government.
This is an opportunity for councillors from all over Australia to press their case with Federal politicians, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
The Mayor said a key issue for the South Burnett was the issue of the Financial Assistance Grant (FAG) program.
As part of its Budget strategy, the Federal Government froze the Australia-wide funding pool for FAG grants to councils from July 1, 2014, and don’t propose to unfreeze it until 2017.
Last month Depurty Mayor Cr Keith Campbell warned the South Burnett stood to lose almost $2.8 million from its income if the three-year freeze was put in place.
- Related article: Council Joins Grant Freeze Fight
