The City of Onkaparinga is seeking community feedback on its draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2023-24.
Feedback is invited from residents, businesses and community organisations from 21 April to 15 May.
Following consultation, the Council will determine its final Annual Business Plan and Budget at its June meeting.
As part of Its 2023-24 plan, the Council is proposing an 8.6 rise in council rates, in line with CPI.
To ensure the budget is informed by the most recent information available, the Council will base its final decisions on the March 2023 CPI figure which will be released on 26 April.
The proposed rates increase responds to inflationary pressures and the rising cost of goods and services.
These have pushed up the cost of materials and services that the council uses to deliver its projects, services, programs and events. In some cases these increases have been above CPI.
Utility costs rose dramatically during 2022-23, with electricity rising by 41 per cent to $1.62 million, street lighting rising by 38 per cent to $3.30 million, and gas and water by 13 per cent to $2.26 million.
The council has identified $8.34 million in budget savings to offset these rising costs and to maintain rates as close to CPI as possible, aware that households are experiencing cost-of-living pressures.
The proposed rate increase and budget savings will allow the council to continue delivering essential services, major works and maintenance.
These essential activities include more than 200 services for our community, including waste services, maintenance of roads, footpaths, parks and reserves, libraries and community centres, and a range of important support services for disadvantaged people in our community.
The council's proposed 2023–24 budget includes expenditure of more than $63 million in projects across Onkaparinga, including $24 million in city-wide projects such as the annual road resealing program, urgent and general roadworks, bushfire preparedness, tree pruning, footpaths, and lighting maintenance and upgrades.
Major proposed projects include Noarlunga United Soccer clubroom upgrades, new Aldinga Sports Park unisex changerooms, the Hopgood Theatre refurbishment, Paul Murray Recreation Centre upgrades, the new Minkarra Park link trail, a new Aldinga Regional Skate Park, expansion of the Aberfoyle Park Community Centre, and road safety upgrades to Flour Mill Road Aldinga, Old Coach Road Maslin Beach and a number of McLaren Vale intersections.
The 2023-24 draft Annual Business Plan and Budget align with the City of Onkaparinga’s current Long-term Financial Plan which ensures the careful management of debt and ongoing financial sustainability.
To have your say, go the council's Your Rates web portal to review the Annual Business Plan and provide your feedback online or by post to the address provided. The council's finance team can answer specific questions via the portal.
Have your say here https://onkaparingacity.com/yourrates