With rates notices starting to find their way into letterboxes and inboxes this week, it’s high time to talk about how those dollars will be spent this financial year.
At the end of July, the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale endorsed an $83 million 2024-2025 Annual Budget.
A huge portion of that – $34.5m – will be allocated for roads, footpaths, bridges, and drainage. But the lion’s share of that amount will come from grant funding, not rates.
Kargotich, Orton, Karnup, Mundijong, Nicholson and Rowley roads will all get a bit of attention this year.
There’ll also be gravel re-sheeting of Millars and Jarrah Rd. The Oakford and Jarrahdale Rd bridges will both be replaced.
And there’ll be new a footpath installed along Soldiers Rd between Abernethy and Bishop.
A total of $10.6m will be spent on parks, gardens and playgrounds. The Bill Hicks, Clem Kentish and Percy’s Park playgrounds will all get new shade sails this year. And Sunry and Percy parks will get play equipment and soft fall upgrades.
Kalimna Oval will get its new lights, the Mundijong netball courts will be resurfaced with new drainage installed, and the new Byford pump track is also slated to get built next year.
The Rec Centre will get a bit of love this year, to fix some building defects and install a solar PV system. And the Youth Space will get some upgrades and artwork.
The Byford kindy and the Landcare building will also be refurbished. And there’ll be a new fence at the scout hall.
The Byford Fire Station change rooms will be finished off, and the long-awaited Oakford Bushfire Brigade Station will break ground.
Nearly $6 million has been set aside to continue hard and green waste kerbside collections, and other waste services initiatives, in lieu of the Watkins Rd Transfer Station.
The shire will borrow nearly $6.5million this year to fund its administration building upgrade, the new Oakford Bushfire Brigade station, and to acquire some new land.
“This budget has been carefully developed to enhance our services and to ensure that every dollar is invested wisely for the betterment of Serpentine Jarrahdale,” Shire President Rob Coales said.
“We’ve also worked really diligently this year to secure millions of state, federal and other grant funding to deliver road upgrades and improvements as we know this is a key issue for our community.
“Given the shire’s unprecedented growth, we’ve allocated significant funds towards essential projects and capital works to build upon our groundwork and propel us toward a brighter future together.
“This year, we’re also taking on board community feedback in relation to maintenance of our green spaces, with new systems in place to automate efficiency as well as new improvements to customer service generally.”
But before the budget went to a vote at the special council meeting, it received some harsh criticism from one councillor.
“The shire president’s budget that he is presenting here tonight is, in my view, one of the most reckless and irresponsible budgets I’ve seen during my time on council,” Cr Morgan Byas said.
“There are no winners in tonight’s budget, except perhaps the shire organisation.
“What essential services will ratepayers be getting? Well, there’s a 13 percent increase to the shire’s operating expenditure; more staff, more salaries, more FTE.
“There’s an extra 19 FTEs (full time roles), taking the shire from 215 staff to approximately 234 staff.
“‘What will they be doing?’ I hear you ask. Well, this budget entertains two full-time staff who will be working on corporate communications, at a cost of $213,720 per year.
“The shire president’s budget will spend almost $1million of your rate money on corporate communications.
“That’s an unbelievable 30 percent increase on what was spent last year.”
He also criticised the proposal to put a pause on adding to the development contribution funds, which is used to finance future community infrastructure like sporting facilities, halls and playgrounds.
Land developers put dollars into this fund to support the additional pressure on existing infrastructure that population growth will bring to the area. The shire, likewise, has an obligation to contribute.
“Through financial discipline and good management, the shire finds itself in a position where we are ahead on our agreed payments – a bit like being ahead on your mortgage repayments,” Cr Byas continued.
“But what council are being asked to do tonight is to undo that. We are being asked to put [those] on hold for three years which, in my view, puts a risk on future community infrastructure like ovals and BMX tracks.
“For what? For more staff and more spending on corporate communications.
“This budget is short-changing our community.
“If this passes tonight one thing is certain, the two full-time staff doing corporate communications will have their work cut out for them selling this irresponsible budget to the community.”
President Rob Coales fired back in his closing remarks, reminding councillors that there was a state election in March next year, and a federal election before August next year too.
“We have no money, we only have ratepayers’ money – unless we advocate to state and federal governments,” he said.
“How do we advocate? We use our corporate communications. We go out and we try to get money for the facilities that our community needs and deserves.
“So, if corporate communications has gone up – and it has – that is the reason why.
“It’s not for my ego or any other councillor’s ego, it’s because we’re in a unique position where there are two elections in this financial year.”
He also explained that new shire staff were needed to compile the new schedules for green space, and works to be completed, and a new ‘footpath priority list of works’.
“If that means we need to put another staff member on, then so be it,” he said.
“As long as there is a tangible benefit to the ratepayers.”
The budget was officially passed 4:3, with Crs Byas, Mack and Mazzini opposed.
