Expenditure, fees and rates to be considered as part of City of Albany 2023-24 annual budget

Albany councillors will have one of their final opportunities to discuss the City’s 2023-24 draft annual budget next week at the committee level before they are expected to endorse it later this month. The draft budget, available via the City’s website as an attachment to next week’s Community and Corporate Services committee meeting agenda, indicates rates revenues will rise to $44,305,190. The proposed rates are based on paying 10.666¢ in the dollar on the gross rental value of improved land and 0.3124¢ in the dollar for unimproved land value. The draft budget outlines that minimum rates will be $1175 for improved land, up from $1120 in 2022-23, and $1270 for unimproved land, up from $1210. It totals up to an expected overall rise in rates revenue of $2,175,040 as the City targets a 4.95 per cent general rate rise for the second year running. Capital grants for the development of assets total just over $23.5 million and include contributions towards the development of the surf reef, a tennis centre, the surf club, and trails. Operating grants income is proposed to be $10.32m over the coming financial year. Also included in the draft budget are increases to meeting fees as well as the mayoral and deputy mayoral allowances. Councillors are budgeted to receive a $490 increase in their meeting fees over the coming 12 months, but the overall budgeted figure has fallen by almost $40,000 because the number of elected members will be reduced in October. The mayor’s combined meeting fees and allowance are proposed to rise to $142,815 from $140,701 in the 2022-23 budget. A full annual adult membership at Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre is proposed to climb above $1000, from $995 to $1045, while concession holders will be charged $890, up from $847. Significant infrastructure expenditure in the proposed capital works program includes spending $2.8m on the Hanrahan Road Landfill Site, $11.2m on the artificial surf reef, $1.9m on trails construction, and $1.3m on the tennis centre. There is also nearly $11.9m for the City’s roadworks program, $3.2m for pathways works, and $1.33m for airport infrastructure works. The rate rise and other figures included in the draft budget are subject to change until the council formally endorses the document, which is expected to happen at its ordinary meeting on July 25.