Have your say on Budget 2020/21

Council sought community feedback on the draft 2020/21 Budget until 5pm, Thursday 30 July 2020.

At its 25 August 2020 meeting, Council adopted its Budget for the 2020/21 financial year.

Budget for 2020/2021(PDF, 8MB)

Background

Council has made the unprecedented decision in its draft budget to introduce a waiver on Council rates for the 2020/21 financial year as a gesture of support for the Monash community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The waiver is on the grounds of financial hardship under section 171 of the Local Government Act 1989. This means that whilst rates will go up by an average of 2% ratepayers will then be provided with a 10% waiver.

We believe Monash is the only Council to Victoria to propose a cut in rates across the board, recognising the impact of COVID-19 on the Monash community. The waiver applies to all 81,319 ratepayers in Monash.

It’s a decision Council has been able to make because of prudent financial planning over many years.

Monash Council remains the metropolitan Council with the lowest rates on a rate per assessment basis and the lowest rates for any council in the State on a per capita basis.

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on everyone in Monash and no-one can be 100% sure what lies ahead economically and emotionally but we believe this draft budget strikes the right balance.

Highlights

Council has secured State and Federal funding as part of the COVID-19 recovery packages to put towards key infrastructure projects: 

Major projects

• A further $4.57 million towards the Oakleigh Recreation Centre, including Federal Government funding of $2.39 million, external contribution of $750,000 and Council contributions of $1.44 million. The project will completed in 2020 with a total budget of $25.2 million.

Roads and footpaths

• Various roads reconstruction programs $4.48 million, which includes $1.48 million external grant funding
• $3.25 million to renew Council's footpaths (estimated up to 40,000m²) and $1.2 million to address the resurfacing of local roads in keeping with community expectations

Sporting facilities

• The State Government, through Sport and Recreation Victoria, has committed $2 million towards the improvement of eight outdoor netball courts at Jells Park. Detailed design is complete and total project costs including the outdoor courts precinct plan is $2.4 million. Council’s contribution to the project is $397,000
• Construction of a multi-sport pavilion at Caloola Reserve $2.01 million to complement the completed tennis courts at the site
• $1.92 million for construction commencement of the Brentwood Reserve Pavilion
• Design and construction of Mulgrave Reserve pavilion will proceed at an estimated cost of $1.8 million plus carry forward $150,000 from last year, including a state grant of $900,000

Children and families

• $2.25 million to continue the design and planning of an Integrated Child & Family Hub at Wellington Kindergarten & Mulgrave Park in year 2. This project will be completed by 2021/22 with a total budget of $4.52 million, including $1 million in grants from the State Government.

Privacy Statement

The personal information you provided will only be used:

• To enable processing of your submission as per the legislative requirements

• To enable contact if there are any questions about your submission

• In a future Council report to incorporate a summary of submissions as appendices and therefore be available to the public. Personal information such as names, addresses, and contact phone numbers will be removed.

• Submissions that contain information deemed inappropriate will not be published on the website or incorporated into Council reports.

Council will not use your personal information for any other purpose, and will not disclose it, without your consent except as required or authorised by law.

If you have any concerns about the use and disclosure of personal information please contact Council's Information Privacy Officer Rob Pedder at Robert.Pedder@monash.vic.gov.au or on 9518 3081.