Brimbank council will slash funding for community events as it prepares for the introduction of rate capping next year.
Acting corporate and community relations director Shane Marr said the council had been forced to cut
$1.9 million from its draft 2015-16 budget. The state government will introduce legislation to cap rates at CPI from the 2016-17 financial year, requiring councils to justify any increases above the rate of inflation.
“Some extra plants and mulch for garden beds and additional main road tree planting that had been proposed will not go ahead, and some community events and programs have been scaled back,” Mr Marr said. “Purchases for general materials have reduced. These measures are not without consequence and were difficult decisions to make.”
Mr Marr would not reveal which community events were in the gun.
Brimbank administrators chairman John Watson said the council would need to save $24 million over the next four years if rates were capped at 2.5 per cent.
He said support for community festivals would continue through grants, but “as administrators we have had to make difficult decisions”. The council’s final community newsletter was published in March, being replaced by an online community blog Brimbank Buzz.
Mr Watson said no new council positions would be created.
“When a person leaves, the role will be reviewed … if needed, a replacement will be employed.”
