Message from the President

The Shire of Kellerberrin has adopted its 2007/2008 Budget with a 11.04% increase in rates revenue to sustain growth and project development for the benefit of our Community. Council in raising its rates in 2007/2008 did not increase the rate in the dollar from previous year's rates. The increase received is frm the increase in valuations on proerties as determined by the Valuer Generals Office. Council has maintained the Rates Incentive Package this year (three accommodation prize packages at no cost to the Council) to give residents the incentive to pay early by the discount date including the 5% discount provided by the Council.

Continual support has been given to upgrading Councils plant and machinery as well as planning for new infrastructure facilities within the Shire of Kellerberrin.

Council’s major projects for 2007 / 2008 are as follows:

Council in framing its Budget considered the needs of the Community together with the needs of the Council in terms of making our Shire and District a more vibrant and attractive place in which to reside and work in.

Council continues to support the following community organisations with small financial assistance grants;

Council each year assesses the major access routes to the Shire of Kellerberrin and in conjunction with Main Roads Funding and Federal Government Roads to Recovery Program Funding provide a program for the upgrade and renewal of these roads. The funding program in which Council receives these funds is for the State Regional Road Group Funding. Council this year has the following programs within its 2007/2008 Budget for expenditure:

Council in addition to the above funded programs has also included the Roads to Recovery Supplementary funding within its 2007/2008 budget for expenditure. The additional funding was provided in 2005/2006 with the provision to expend the funds by the 30th June 2009. Council have elected to expend these funds total of $271,392 on providing a NEW Heavy Vehicle Access Road commencing on the east side of the current CBH Site and eventually completed at the intersection of Dowding Road, Bedford Street and Mooranoppin Road with estimated costs of the staged project being $331,490.07.

Major Plant items included in the 2007/2008 Budget consist of:

1.    Mitsubishi Tip Truck Replacement - Tandem Drive

2.    Side Tipping Trailer - New Unit

3.    Utility Replacements - Various

Council is pleased to present the Budget Document to the Community and given the continued and additional external pressures placed upon the Council, I am sure that the Community will observe value and stimulus to your rate dollars being expended throughout the Community on various projects, facilites and services.

Forward Planning projects of the council are Summarised Hereunder:

• Multi Purpose Indoor Recreation Sport and Leisure Facility
• Relocation and Development of Caravan Park Facility
• Development of new Light Industrial Area - North of Mather Road
• Development of Lifestyle lots in Restdown Estate
• Upgrade of Community Infrastructure
• Construction of new Northern Heavy Vehicle Access Route to Light Industrial Area and to CBH
• Upgrade and Landscaping of Major Townsite Streets
• Construction of Additional Stormwater Storage Sites to improve Water Self Sufficiency including Ground mounted storage sites for emergency purposes.

Council is working hard to improve our delivery of services, initiate and develope projects and in consideration of increasing compliance and cost shifting responsibilities upon Local Government. Generally Council remains committed to providing opportunities within our district for sustained growth and development.