Media Releases

MEDIA KEY POINTS

28 April 2011

immediate release

BUDGET KEY POINTS

The Alice Springs Town Council has today released the 2011 to 2015 draft Municipal Plan for public comment.

The Plan, which includes Budget estimates for the 2011/12 financial year, will be open for public comment until Wednesday 25 May 2011.

MayorDamien Ryansaid “Council has a lot of great community initiatives in this budget, whilst keeping the rates as low as possible.”

For the 2011/12 financial year the Municipal Plan proposes an increase in average rates of 5.80%. The kerbside garbage collection service charge will increase by $27 bring the total to $255 per annum.

As per the Strategic Plan, the priorities to be funded in the 2011/12 financial year are:

• $930k on replacement of plant and equipment
• $100k to continue the Anzac Oval Facility Development (of which $50k is from NT Government grant)
• $100k to refurbish public toilets in municipality
• $158k for additional Rangers to enforce Council’s by-laws
• $100k on the sponsorship of local community events and organisations such as the Alice Desert Festival, NT Thunder, Finke Desert Race and Masters Games
• $140k towards support community events and initiatives such as National Tree Day, Night Markets, Christmas Carnival and Todd River Tucker including the Tourism, Events & Promotions committee budget.

The rate instalments will be due on Friday 2 September 2011, Friday 4 November 2011, Friday 3 February 2012 and Friday 13 April 2012.  Ratepayers who pay their rates in full before the first instalment date, go into the early bird draw for a chance to win a rates refund or a landfill pass.

ENDS

For further information contact: