Hobsons Bay Proposed Budget

Given that I had to write a hard news story for an assignment for uni and given I live in the Hobsons Bay municipality and given that I somehow enjoy this kind of stuff, there follows a reproduction of what I handed in. I don't know whether I excelled or failed, or landed somewhere in between.

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Cameron Magusic                                                                        #budget                   

24/05/12

Hobsons Bay residents have a higher-than-expected rate rise on their minds.

The credit goes to Hobsons Bay Council and its proposed budget for the 2012/13 financial year, released last month, which authorised an average rise of 6.3 percent. 

Councillors encouraged citizens to have their say on the issue throughout May, with the budget to be formally adopted at the June 26 council meeting.

People were expecting nothing more than a five percent rate rise, said co-convenor of the Hobsons Bay Residents Association Colin Palmer.

"I can’t explain it to them why rates have gone up so much," he said.

"The residents are basically saying, 'Well, what are we getting for this thousand-odd dollars or more that we’re paying?'

"Personally, I can’t see the justification for the average rate rise to be higher than five percent.

The rate rise was a difficult issue for everybody to consider, said Councillor Luba Grigorovitch, representing Altona Meadows Ward.

"Nobody wants to increase the rates, and I know that was one of the last things for us," she said.

"Our rates have always been very low, around four per cent."

In fact, over the past five financial years, rates have increased annually by 5.8 percent on average, according to the proposed budget.

The budget blames the redevelopment of the Williamstown library and the Williamstown Town Hall and the introduction of carbon pricing, among other reasons, for the increase.

While speaking against the increase at the council meeting last month – Cr Grigorovitch had "big issues" with the rise – the upside was a strong infrastructure program, she said.

"At the same time we do have a very big capital works program, and there’s a lot happening."

Mr Palmer acknowledged this, but criticised some big-ticket items – such as the redevelopment of the Williamstown Town Hall – as not being useful.

"It’s all to do with heritage and everything else, but the average person can’t see the benefit to them, I suppose."

Williamstown was seemingly a big winner, but Cr Grigorovitch said this was making up for previous years.

"Williamstown is ageing, so like it or lump it, it’s something that does need a lot of money," she said.

Councillor for Altona North Ward Michael Raffoul wrote in an email that the projects in Williamstown "have been part of an ongoing four year capital works program".

Submissions to the budget close on May 31.

ENDS