Shire of Broome Council adopts 2024-25 Budget
Published on 22 August 2024
The Broome Shire Council has approved the 2024-25 Annual Budget at a Special Meeting of Council on Thursday, August 22, 2024.
The Annual Budget outlines how Shire funds, obtained from rates, fees, and external grants, will be used during the financial year.
The 2024-25 Shire Budget provides a consistent direction that aligns with the Corporate Business Plan 2023-2027 and the Strategic Community Plan 2023-2033.
It also considers the challenging economic climate, including factors such as increases in CPI, interest rates, utility costs, and insurance premiums. These are balanced with revenue to ensure continuous service delivery to the Broome community.
Shire of Broome President Chris Mitchell said the 2024-25 Budget is all about sustainability and ensuring the Shire maintains the current high levels of service provision during these challenging economic times.
“We are proud of the significant progress of ongoing major initiatives during the past year and are excited to continue this momentum into the next financial year.
“Our achievements have been bolstered by significant federal and state grants and independent industry support resulting from our tireless work to lobby and advocate for the Shire's interests.
“This means we can use a significant amount of your rates to maintain and expand our core services; infrastructure, such as footpaths, roads, and streetlight upgrades, and maintaining and operating our excellent services, such as the library, BRAC, parks and reserves.”
Community projects budgeted for in 2024-25 include:
- $1.51 million for the Frederick Street roundabout (BRAC entry) (grant funded)
- $220,000 for the BRAC Importance Level 4 Upgrades (50% grant funded)
- $105,000 for street light upgrades
- $157,500 for a new footpath along Frederick Street between Jewell Street and the Boulevard.
- $51,000 towards actions from the Arts and Culture Strategy (2023 – 2028)
- $83,000 to implement the Youth Plan
- $30,000 for the Community Safety Plan Review.
Shire President Mitchell said the Council had adopted a balanced Budget to deliver such critical capital and special projects in 2024-25 without compromising the general operating costs caused by high inflation and interest rates.
"The adopted 2024-25 Budget reflects the Council's commitment to provide, facilitate and advocate for services and infrastructure to improve quality of life for everyone," Shire President Mitchell said.
"To maintain Shire services that people rightly expect, we had to raise rates by 5.97 per cent, which takes into account that our remote location attracts additional CPI pressures to the Shire's operating budget.
"The result is a sustainable Budget that will contribute to Broome's continued positive evolution and exciting future for everyone."