The Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council needs to raise its revenue by 10 percent over last year and this increase will be reflected in its recommended rates.

The council met on Monday, July 7 to accept the draft business plan and budget for 2008/09 and authorise it for public consultation.

Described by council chief executive officer Roy Blight as a “difficult but responsible budget plan” the documents are available for public scrutiny.

Council will receive written submissions on the budget proposals up until July 30, 2008 and the opportunity will be available for public submissions at the July 21 council meeting.

Mr Blight said the draft business plan contained an increase in rate revenue of $683,000, up 10 percent from 2007/08 to produce a total revenue from ratable properties of $7,061,000.

Main increases over the last financial year include almost $600,000 in council’s operating expenditure, while there is a reduction of about $1.4 million in capital expenditure. The council has estimated a decrease of about $1 million in revenue (excluding rates).

There has been an increase in property values throughout the district by about $150 million ($1.801 billion in 2007/08 to $!.953 billion in 2008/09).

Mr Blight said the council was pursuing funding for Main Road 45 (Marrabel to Waterloo) and Anama Lane, Hilltown, through the Special Local Roads Funding Program administered by the Local Government Association.

These projects have been elevated to Number 3 and Number 4 in the Central Local Government Region Roads Strategy and the council is optimistic about the prospects for securing outside funding towards these important road links.

The significance of MR 45 has been increased with the investment by the Federal Government in the Kapunda to Marrabel Road through the Auslink Program.