PYRENEES Shire residents can expect rate rises, road upgrades and energy-efficient street lights if the council adopts its 2014-15 draft budget next month. A rate increase of 5.25 per cent was outlined for 2014-15, making it the third consecutive year Pyrenees residents would see the same rate percentage increase.
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The draft budget also revealed the council would allocate:
• $2.8 million for road works, including $539,000 for gravel road re-sheeting and $711,000 for bridge works;
• $350,000 towards the next stage of the Correa Park in Beaufort;
• $35,000 for energy-efficient street lights; and
• $362,000 for caravan park improvements.
Mayor Robert Vance said the council would continue to drop the farm differential rate each year.
The draft budget proposes the farm rate to be 80.5 per cent of the residential rate.
Cr Vance said farmers paid about $1200 in rates for a farm worth $250,000, while homeowners paid about $750 for a property valued at $200,000.
Cr Vance encouraged people to make submissions.
“The 2014-15 draft budget and rate increase allows the council to maintain existing service levels, fund a number of new initiatives and continue to allocate additional funds to renew infrastructure,” he said.
“In my experience, there have been very few submissions that have been put in (during the public exhibition).”
The document was put on public exhibition last Thursday, with submissions closing in 28 days.
kara.irving@fairfaxmedia.com.au
