Council budget, annual plan open for community feedback
Published on 04 May 2023
The City of Launceston invites the community to have their say on its draft 2023/24 annual budget after Councillors voted unanimously to send the budget out to community consultation at today's ordinary meeting.
Launceston Mayor Danny Gibson said the consultation period will provide ratepayers and residents with the opportunity to have their say on the draft budget and all it contains, including fees and charges, as well as the general rating figure.
The 2023/24 draft budget is headlined by a capital works programme worth more than $20.4 million.
Mayor Gibson said that while that figure is slightly lower than previous years, it reflected Council's desire to maintain a cap on costs as much as practically possible and to keep the increase in fees and rates significantly lower than the current CPI.
The Council's proposed expenditure of $136 million for the 2023/24 financial year includes significant spending on the municipality's recreational facilities, roads and traffic maintenance and improvements as well as $1.4 million for a new playground at City Park and renewal of the ever-popular duck ponds, Mayor Gibson said.
Significant inclusions in Council's proposed Capital Works program for 2023/24 include:
- Alexandra Suspension Bridge Stage 2 - $1.5 million
- Addition of a new Pump Track - $500,000
- Launceston Aquatic Centre works (including gym equipment upgrades and pool plant and equipment renewal) - $440,000
- Street Tree Strategy and Urban Implementation - $400,000
- Sport Facility Renewal Program - $300,000
- Princess Theatre and Earl Arts Centre Redevelopment - $1.2 million
- Community Halls Renewal Program - $300,000
- Royal Park Amenities Upgrade - $250,000
- Christmas Tree and Decorations - $115,000
- Major Plant Replacement Purchases - $1.61 million
- Road Reseal Program - $1.6 million
- Roads Reconstruction Program - $1.415 million
- Footpath Reconstruction Program - $1.02 million
- Roads Network Extensions - $500,000
- Royal Park Skate Park Upgrade - $20,000
Council is budgeting for an underlying surplus of $928,000 - two years earlier than originally planned - on the back of a proposed rate increase of 4.5 per cent.
"Councillors have heard all the public commentary leading up to today's meeting regarding the increasing costs of doing business and the rise in the cost of living," Mayor Gibson said.
"It's equally important that people understand that those same cost pressures - particularly with CPI running at 7 to 8 per cent - are being also felt by Councils.
"The reality is, services and goods cost more than they did 12 months ago.
"It's important that the City of Launceston continues to provide the quality services to our residents and ratepayers expect such as new parks, new playgrounds, upgrades to roads and footpaths, a greener city, providing assistance to community groups and the vulnerable in our community - all of those things are important."
Mayor Gibson said there were proposed increases for waste management due to cost increases associated with the collection and disposal of landfill, recycling and FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics).
"It's important that we always try to balance all the challenges faced by our community with the need to maintain the wide array of services and facilities our community relies on," Mayor Gibson said.
"Council believes this proposed budget strikes a balance between still continuing to provide for our community and being fiscally responsible."
More information on the proposed budget is available on the Council website, www.launceston.tas.gov.au
Public submissions can be made up until 5pm on Sunday, May 14 by email to ProposedBudget2024@launceston.tas.gov.au or in writing to the Chief Executive Officer, City of Launceston, PO Box 396, Launceston 7250.
Copies of the draft annual plan and budget are also available in hardcopy at Customer Service at Town Hall.
Related Information
Proposed City of Launceston Annual Plan 2023/24(PDF, 10MB)
Proposed 2023/24 Statutory Estimates(PDF, 57KB)
Proposed 2023/24 Capital Projects(PDF, 13KB)
Proposed 2023/24 Major Operational Projects(PDF, 5KB)