City of Ballarat Budget 

The 2012-13 Draft Budget for the City of Ballarat will be considered by Council at the Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday, 9 May 2012.

The key highlights to be considered in the 2012-13 Draft Budget for Ballarat include:

• Rate increase capped at 4%

• a $70.00 rate rebate for single aged pensioners living in their own homes • a full rate rebate for not-for-profit sporting clubs and community organisations who normally pay rates based on Recreation 1.

• A new Rural Residential rate for rural lifestyle properties who are in the farm zone but do not qualify as farms. This new rate will buffer these residents from an increase to full residential rates.

• A new Gaming venue rate which is higher than the commercial rate in recognition of the impacts that gaming machines have on the community. Funds collected from this new rate will be directed towards projects related to minimising the effects of gaming on the community.

• The Tourism and Economic Development Levy to be scrapped. Council proposes to incorporate all funding required for projects from Council's differential rating system. Under this new arrangement, the majority of businesses will pay less than they would have paid if we had kept the Levy.

Council proposes to continue the strong investment into key projects and services including:

• $10 million into aged care services

• $7.4 million into early childhood services • $634,000 into CBD projects • $1.3 million to complete the Australian Centre for Democracy at Eureka • $11 million for new roads and road renewal • plus $4 million dedicated to key rural roads

Council called for community submissions in the compiling of the Draft 2012-13 Budget. Submissions were heard from a range of community groups and other organisations and Council has proposed to jointly fund the $500,000 track re-surfacing project at Llanberris Athletic Reserve in 2012-13.

• Draft 2012/13 Budget
• 2011/12 Budget  (Current)
• 2010/11 and Previous Budgets