Moree Plains Shire Council Mayor Katrina Humphries is pleased to report council has managed to come out on top despite projections for a difficult 2017/18 Financial Year.
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“It’s great to see there has been a surplus,” Cr Humphries said.
“It was always projected to be a tough time because of loan structures, but I’m very pleased to have a surplus. There’s been a lot of reigning in of expenditure and overtime.”
MPSC councillors voted to adopt the 2018/19 Operational Plan and Budget at last Thursday’s council meeting.
“We always knew we would have to tighten the belt. It’s been wonderful that we can do that, without having to cut too many services back,” Cr Humphries said.
Included in the 2018/19 budget is a proposed $498,522, for Moree Tourism, a drop from last year’s $499,317. The funding came on the back of strong community support from groups such as Moree Quilters, Gift Barrel and BAMM.
“Because of Moree Tourism, quilters are able to exhibit their work to the public and tourists. Moree Tourism has always been friendly and helpful,” Moree Quilters’ Helen Mitchell said.
Cr Humphries said she was always concerned about the continual cost shifting from the State Government.
“I’m always concerned because this affects where grants are given to certain projects.”
Recently, it was announced the NSW government’s Regional Cultural Fund would direct a little over a million dollars into the Moree Civic Precinct redevelopment. The funding will match council’s contribution of roughly $1.3 million.
“The Civic Centre precinct upgrade has been something on the books for some time. The town hall is a very loved and treasured asset to our community. It needs airconditioning, acoustic work, better disability access,” Cr Humphries said.
While Cr Humphries is pleased with the overall result, she said there were still matters of concern.
“I’m deeply concerned that price of auditing is close to double because the State Government has changed the whole direction around auditing.”
She said matters still needed to be addressed in regards to road upgrades.
“I’m still disappointed we haven’t got a magic wand to do more work with our roads,” Cr Humphries said.
“In 2013, then-Minister for Roads and Maritime Duncan Gay promised us that the Byra and Washpool causeways would be upgraded. Here we are halfway through 2018 and nothing’s happened.
“I will continue to lobby Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Roads Minister Melinda Pavey. I will continue to lobby state government very hard to get more funding for our rural and regional roads in the shire.”
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As part of the Operational Plan and Budget council also adopted the rates for the next financial year.
“Council’s ability to raise revenue from levying rates is limited and set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). This limitation is known as rate pegging and involves a percentage cap on the income raised from ordinary and special rates from one year to another,” MPSC’s finance manager Andrew Probert said.
“This year the increase is set at 2.3 per cent and was adopted by council after the Revenue Policy came off a 28 day public display last Thursday on June 28.”
For farm land, the average annual increase will be $237.47, which amounts to $4.57 a week.
Businesses in Moree will witness a $56.53 annual increase, equivalent to $1.09 per week. Other businesses will be given a $26.62 increase in the year, which measures at $0.51 per week.
Residential and urban and rural dwellings will get a $36.07 spike, or $0.69 a week.
There will be no increase to water, sewer and waste charges.
