THE City of Joondalup has banked more than $1.8 million following its mid-year budget review.
The review found the City’s projected budget surplus for 2016-17 would be $2.24 million.
This has allowed several new projects to be included in this financial year’s budget, including $30,000 for design of the Whitfords Nodes stairway, $45,000 for landscaping along the Robertson Road cycleway in Kingsley, $12,000 for a picnic bench and shelter at Santiago Park in Ocean Reef, $48,5000 for a storage facility at Ellersdale Park in Warwick and $15,000 for stormwater improvements at Tuart Park in Edgewater.
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READ NOWIt was also recommended the City include $145,000 for grass pitch upgrades at Warwick Hockey Centre but Whitford Hockey Club requested it be done at the end of the season, which would be in the next financial year.
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Councillors at last Tuesday’s meeting approved these additional projects, as well as $300,000 towards this year’s Kaleidoscope event.
This meant the City was able to transfer $1,828,131 to its strategic asset management reserve.
Mayor Troy Pickard said this reinforced the City’s effort to appropriately manage its finances and “prepare us for the future”.
“As we are all aware, that future is proposed to incorporate a performing arts and cultural facility and there are not many local governments in WA or Australia that during a mid-year review would put $1.8 million back in the bank for a rainy day,” he said.
“This is a sign of our financial responsibility and a solid sign of our financial standing as a City.”
Some of the additional funds were from a higher than expected surplus from last financial year’s budget and almost $800,000 in higher interest earnings.