Baw Baw’s Budget Blown

A recent report to Council shows the Shire was $1.546 million behind in its forecast mid year position.  While council received an addition $1.9 million in revenue, its operating expenditure was $3.4 million higher, largely caused by a $700,000 investment in additional planning department staff and a further $500,000 required to finalise Council’s exit from aged and disability services.

Other additional operating costs included $276,000 for agency staff, $230,000 for street sweeping disposal, $101,000 kerbside collection costs, $100,000 for senior officer recruitment; $100,000 for traffic management and $70,000 for legal settlement fees.

Grant funding provided additional revenue to Council and included a $500,000 outdoor activation grant, a $440,000 emergency management grant and a $169,000 native vegetation offset grant. Other additional revenue items received by council were $500,000 Victorian Grants Commission funding, $157,000 additional revenue including transfer stations and $81,000 building services revenue.

“The additional net expenditure is largely funded by a better than expected year end position at 30 June 2021, which was not known at the time the amended budget was set,” the report said.