Green light for 4.5% rate rise

Updated November 7 2012 - 2:24am, first published July 7 2010 - 12:19pm

CITY of Greater Bendigo residents will be hit with a 4.5 per cent rate increase.Bendigo Council last night agreed to the increase, despite one councillor voting against it.Councillors approved the 2010-11 budget, which includes the biggest capital works program in five years with $48.7 million set aside for major works.Cr Lisa Ruffell did not vote because of a conflict of interest.Cr Ruffell declared a conflict of interest because of a submission in the budget by the Bendigo Traders Association of which Cr Ruffell’s husband Martin is a board member.Mayor Rod Campbell said the budget was a solid piece of work and presented a sound argument for expenditure in the coming year.‘‘The City is in a very solid financial position and we are where we want to be,’’ he said.‘‘I believe it is a sensible outcome which will support the growing population.‘‘We need to meet their expectations and it’s not an easy task.’’However, Cr Peter Cox said he was unable to support a budget that did little for low income earners, included $2.6 million for the a multi-storey car park, and raised staff costs from $36 million to $45 million.‘‘I am frustrated with the budget and the process,’’ he said.‘‘We sit down and debate important projects against one another.’’Cr Cox said councillors should be discussing ways to save money and how to become more efficient.‘‘I’m voting against it because we as a council can do much better,’’ he said.The budget sets aside $2.16 million for the next stage of planning for the Edward Street car park, including initial construction works.

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