Sustainable budget recommended for adoption

Published on 16 June 2021

A draft 2021-22 budget that focuses on long-term sustainability has been recommended for adoption by the Hobart City Council.

A Joint Committee, comprising all elected members, met this evening to consider the draft budget, which includes a $141 million operating budget and $43 million capital works program.

Following a deficit budget in 2020-21, due to the impacts of Covid-19, the City has forecast a moderate surplus of $1.49 million for the coming financial year to bring it closer to meeting sustainability benchmarks.

The Joint Committee noted that the draft budget represented a responsible and balanced approach to spending, as the City continued to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

The draft budget proposes an average rates increase of 2.73 per cent, or approximately $70 a year, with the majority of residential ratepayers receiving an increase of between 2.63 per cent and 2.81 per cent.

Waste management, FOGO and landfill rehabilitation services charges will be frozen for 2021-22. However, the state government-imposed Fire Protection levy will increase by $32.33.

The capital works program focuses mostly on renewal of existing assets but is bolstered by more than $8 million in grants to fund specific projects, such as new cycle lanes on Argyle and Campbell streets, new public toilets and facilities at Tolmans Hill and Long Beach, and redevelopment of the Swan Street Park in North Hobart.

The draft budget will be considered by the full Council on Monday 21 June at 5pm. The meeting will be livestreamed via the City of Hobart’s YouTube channel.