0% Increase of General Rate Income proposed for
Draft 2020-21 Annual Business Plan and Budget
A zero increase of general rate income has been proposed by the Naracoorte Lucindale Council in its draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2020-21.
“Council is pleased to be able to propose a zero increase of general rate income. This decision reflects Council’s strong desire to provide relief to the community, acknowledges the pressures on the economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is possible due to Council’s strong financial position and identified savings” Mayor Erika Vickery OAM said.
Council is also offering rate relief to ratepayers experiencing hardship due to COVID-19 by allowing ratepayers to apply for the postponement / deferment of rate payments and to not raise fines or interest for the period 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020.
The draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2020-21 is now available for the community to review and comment on. You can have your say until 5pm on 23 June by emailing or writing to Council at PO Box 555, Naracoorte, SA, 5271, council@nlc.sa.gov.au or commenting online at www.yoursay.naracoortelucindale.sa.gov.au/draftannualbudget2020-2021
The draft Budget provides for the continuation of services for the community, support for community events and sport and recreational groups, and the continued promotion and upgrade of the Naracoorte Regional Livestock Exchange to ensure it maintains its position as the premium livestock selling facility on the Limestone Coast. Other significant proposals in the Draft Budget are:
- The development of the Naracoorte Library at its new location, 93 Smith Street (the former Naracoorte Herald building)
- Implementation of the Caves Trail Master Plan
- Implementation of the Lucindale Masterplan
- Progression of the Naracoorte Regional Sports Centre Masterplan
- Naracoorte Town Centre Rejuvenation Project
- An increased emphasis on maintaining roadside vegetation with an extra allocation of $110,000 for tree trimming, bringing the total annual spend to $410,000.
- A continued emphasis on replacement, renewal and upgrade of Council roads, footpaths and kerbing
- Expenditure of $9.8 million on major projects across all areas of Council creating new infrastructure and renewing or replacing existing infrastructure (referred to as capital expenditure in the budget papers), such as sealed and unsealed road constructions, road resheeting and resealing, footpaths, stormwater/drainage and improvements to cemeteries, playgrounds and the Naracoorte Swimming Lake.
Information on rates and financial relief is available by contacting Council on 8760 1100 or online at www.naracoortelucindale.sa.gov.au/community/coronavirus-covid-19