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THE City of Greater Bendigo will receive $27,120,000 from fees and charges in 2013/14 and $27,675,000 in 2014-15.
Mayor Cr Barry Lyons said fees and charges were an important source of income for the City of Greater Bendigo.
“Each year Council is tasked with having to strike a balance between what is affordable for our community and the need to raise enough revenue to fund services,” Cr Lyons said.
“Without revenue from fees and user charges, the City of Greater Bendigo could not deliver the same high standard of services for our community.”
“The funds we raise are used to help offset the cost of providing services that are used by specific groups of people or not generally accessed by the entire community.”
In 2014/2015, fees and user charges are budgeted to raise around 15 per cent of Council’s income.
The annual revenue budgeted to be received from fees and charges in 2013/2014 is $27,120,000 and in 2014/2015 is $27,675,000.
Significant areas where this income will be derived from include:
Parking: Car parking fees for both Zone 1 and 2 are remaining the same as the 2013/2014 user fees, currently $1.40 per hour and $5.20 per day for Zone 1, while 0.60 per hour and $2.60 per day for Zone 2.
Waste Services: Significant costs are incurred within the waste services sector including waste disposal, waste cartage, EPA landfill levy and rehabilitation costs. Proposed increases to user fees for landfill are approximately 6.08 per cent on average, which takes into account CPI and increases to the EPA levy. The cost of dumping a trailer load of domestic waste at the Eaglehawk landfill will rise from $31 to $33.
Childcare services: Proposed to increase full day child care for all children from $105 per day to $109 per day, while Occasional Care will rise from $11.50 per hour to $11.90 per hour. Weekly childcare services for children under three years will rise from $415 to $430, while weekly childcare for children over three years will rise from $405 to $420.
Strathfieldsaye mother of three Tanya Smith said the rises would affect people with tight budgets.
"Often people chose family day care because it's significantly cheaper," she said.
"It's those people that it will be a problem for."
The council's director of organisation support Marg Allan said the rise would cover costs and maintain quality.
Sport and leisure facilities: Average increase of 2.9 per cent. Adult swimming pool admission tickets will rise from $4.60 to $5, while an adult season ticket will rise from $92 to $95. Seasonal hire for an A grade reserve will increase from $3427.28 be $3520.
The new fees and charges will be effective from July 1, 2014.