The budget ushers in a 3.0% rate increase plus a 13% waste charge increase that will deliver revenue of $141M and $17M respectively. Ratepayers will also be slugged with the State Government’s new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) that replaces the fire services levy.
This is the first budget of the council elected last year and the first with the new single councillor wards. It was noticeable in recent meetings that the councillors are becoming skilled at reaching consensus and steering a course that enabled them to vote unanimously on most issues.
But this mood was tested by a set of ‘surprise’ amendments added to the budget agenda just days before the meeting by Councillors Buckingham and Crawford. The draft budget already contained $600,000 for council actions on housing affordability and homelessness in the next financial year. The Buckingham/Crawford amendments sought to begin allocating these funds from July, specifically to fund three community agencies tackling homelessness and housing insecurity.
Moving the amendments, Cr Buckingham told the meeting that the top issue raised with her was people sleeping rough and the impact it has on the sense of safety and community amenity. Buckingham stressed that there was a pressing and urgent need to support for community organisations in their efforts to get people off the streets.
“This is not asking for additional money [in the budget]; it’s about responding urgently,” she said.
Her three amendments were voted on separately, but only one was passed. That allocated an immediate one-off $150,000 for St Kilda Community Housing to repurpose a house for rough sleepers in St Kilda.
Speaking after the meeting, multiple councillors told TWiSK that they felt ambushed by the late changes after extensive discussions about the budget and plan. “We’d been through a lengthy process, and then this appeared after the process” is how they described their reluctance to allocate funds to specific projects before considering priorities overall.
No Surprises on Rate Increase
The budget introduces a 3.0% rate increase along with a 13% waste charge increase that will deliver revenue of $141 million and $17 million, respectively.
The council will also collect $37.7 million on behalf of the state government for the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF), with most residential properties facing an increase between $50 to $150 depending on the value of their property.
For the record, Councillors Jay, Hardy and Mears voted against the rate increase, however Hardy and Mears voted in favour of the overall budget.
What Does Council Say About Its Budget and Plan?
Council media states this budget reflects the concerns of the community. They attribute the themes to “1,500 touchpoints” in their community consultation. Mayor Crawford said, “Community safety, connection, and cohesion is at the heart of this roadmap for all the services and projects we will deliver for our community.”
Council media highlights specific allocations across key themes, including:
– Community Safety: An additional $250,000 to fund actions from the Community Safety Roundtable and new Community Safety Plan, an additional Local Laws officer, and investment in the public place CCTV network.
– Community Connection and Cohesion: An extra $250,000 towards addressing loneliness and isolation, social connection, and combating discrimination, racism, and anti-Semitism, along with $2.3 million over four years for affordable housing and homelessness.
– Improved Amenity: An additional $200,000 to enhance city amenity, including increased street cleaning and pressure washing, and an extra $9 million over the next decade for improving roads and local infrastructure.
– Events and Festivals: Trimming the St Kilda Festival to transfer $450,000 for other arts and culture grants.
– Greener City, Including Access to Open Space: An additional $400,000 to improve greening, including the development of urban forest precinct plans and an extra $4.5 million for the acquired Sandridge public open space.
