BERRI Barmera Council residents are set to receive some rate relief, with a nil increase in the rate in the dollar proposed for the next financial year, along with significant rate remissions for COVID-affected businesses.
Council’s draft Annual Business Plan and Budget includes rate remissions of 50 per cent in the first quarter and 25 per cent in the second quarter for businesses forced to shutdown due to the coronavirus and those eligible for JobKeeper.
Berri Barmera CEO Karyn Burton said the council was mindful of the financial uncertainty caused by COVID-19 and delays to Federal and State Government budgets.
“Council has developed the 2020/2021 budget with a moderate approach and with the awareness that some residents and businesses of our district will be looking to council for assistance during these times,” she said.
To reduce the impact of residential property values increasing by almost eight per cent, the council has lowered its rate cap to ensure residential property owners pay no more than seven per cent more than their 2019-20 rates.
The cap will apply to more than a quarter of residential properties in the council area and save homeowners more than $50,000 in total.
A 12 per cent cap will apply to rates on all other property types.
“We are still getting an increase in our rate revenue, but that is because of valuation increases,” Ms Burton said.
“We’ve tried to temper that somewhat by introducing the rate cap.
“We’re also spending about $160,000 to provide remissions for businesses that are struggling due to coronavirus restrictions.”
Other relief measures previously announced by council include the reduction or waiving of lease and licence fees for community groups facing financial hardships, waive fines and penalties related to late payment of rates, the ability to enter into a financial hardship plan with council and the suspension of debt-collecting activities.
With the average residential property value in the council increasing by almost $13,000, along with an increase in the community wastewater management service charge and waste management service charge, the average household will pay about $115 more this financial year compared to last.
“Our waste management service charge went up 3.5 per cent because the costs passed through by our contractors have been very high,” Ms Burton said.
“This is partly because of the State Government’s solid waste levy and partly due to China’s policy to reduce the import of recyclables.”
More than $2.5 million in capital works are currently scheduled for the 2020/2021 financial year, plus $1 million in projects funded by the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Programme (DCP) extension.
Ms Burton said continuing with capital project was important to maintaining the regional economy through the pandemic and beyond.
“All services and projects proposed within the 2020/2021 Annual Business Plan and Budget are aimed at stimulating the regional economy by way of employment and the engagement of local contractors, businesses and suppliers as much as practicable,” she said.
Notable projects scheduled for the next financial year include a revamp for Colin Jennings Apex Park, re-paving of various footpaths around the Berri and Barmera CBDs, and stage two of the Berri river-front retrofit.
Stage one of the retrofit is expected to begin towards the end of the current financial year, with works on stage two beginning immediately after.
“The river-front redesign project is out for tender for costs at the moment,” Ms Burton said.
“Those costings will go back to council before the project goes ahead.”
Ms Burton said the Apex Park revamp would focus on creating active recreation spaces.
“Members of the community have been quite responsive in letting us know what they want there,” she said.
“I’m excited for that project because I think that will provide a lot of things that people have wanted.
“There are a lot of fairly small projects (in the draft business plan), but they are projects that are important for maintaining council assets.”
DCP extension funded projects include a council-wide hardwaste collection, irrigation upgrades for the Berri and Barmera ovals, replacement of the Monash Adventure Park maze and lighting for the Barmera lake front, Berri river front and Berri CBD.
Public consultation on Annual Business Plan and Budget 2020-2021, as well as a Draft Long Term Financial Plan 2020-2030 also released this month, is open until 5pm on June 10.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, no public meetings will occur, however written submissions posted to PO Box 229, Berri SA, 5343, emailed to bbc@bbc.sa.gov.au, delivered in-person to the council office or made online on the council’s website will be accepted.
To view the plan or provide feedback online, visit www.berribarmera.sa.gov.au.