Peninsula Shire Council

Council finances

The Peninsula was amongst the hardest hit in the fallout of the Central Coast Council financial crisis, with rates increasing 45 per cent and being kept that high for the next 10 years.

With residents, with incomes of 80 percent of the State average, ultimately bearing the cost of council spending, Peninsula Council would accept an obligation to give residents a meaningful opportunity to control the council budget.

The Peninsula Council would provide financial information in a form that is readily understood by residents. It would be adequate to allow a range of options to be responsibly chosen: from increasing rates and services, to reducing services and rates, and keeping rates and services the same. It would be adequate for residents to monitor the financial performance of the council against budget and for them to provide feedback and support to their representatives.

The information would be adequate to answer the question: "Which services do you want cut back?" when expenditure is exceeding income, and budget cuts need to be made.

What would Peninsula Council do?

Providing a meaningful breakdown

The Woy Woy Peninsula

Peninsula Council financial reports would be prepared in a form readily understood by residents and ratepayers, that allows them to assess their priorities are for council expenditure.
Peninsula Council would provide the necessary information and encourage residents to say which activities, projects and programs should proceed and which should not.
Peninsula Council's budget would not only show how grant money is being spent, but how council employees (paid by rates money and other general revenue) are spending their time.
Peninsula Council would recognise the Peninsula community's lower income level and residents' desire to live within their means, to remain part of their community and not be forced out due to financial pressures brought on by the council.
Peninsula Council would adopt a modest approach to budgeting commensurate with residents' financial capacity.
Peninsula Council would budget for rate increases no greater than CPI, with rate levels comparable with local government areas with similar demographics (irrespective of size).