UPPER Hunter Shire Council has tabled its 2014/15 Annual Report, financial statements and auditor’s report.
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Council’s consolidated surplus for the year ended June 30, 2015 is $3.6 million.
However, Council’s auditors, Forsyths Business Services, report this figure includes $4.8 million of capital grants and contributions.
The auditors say if these grants are excluded Council has a deficit of $1.2 million for 2014/2015.
In a tough operating environment, Council still managed to increase income by $3.5 million, up 9.5 per cent, while expenses fell by $1.4 million, down 3.7 per cent.
The financial documents for the past 12 months shows Council raised $9.2 million in ordinary rates.
Rates from farmland accounted for $5.06 million of the total; $3.48 million was residential; $576,000 was paid by business; and the mining industry contributed $84,000 in ordinary rates.
Council’s total income from annual charges in 2015 was $6.29 million, with just over one-third of that total levied for sewerage services and 30 per cent for domestic waste management services.
Total interest and investment revenue was down by 12 per cent over the period, from $1.2 million to $1.06 million. The decrease is due to cash reserves being used to fund infrastructure renewals.
Total other revenue showed Council’s sales from scrap metal between 2015 and 2014 fell from $109,000 to $64,000, down 41 per cent, but its revenue from insurance rebates and incentives rose by 182 per cent.
Council’s auditors also indicated other revenues were down because Council achieved lower-than-anticipated contributions from Roads and Maritime Services who carried out less work on state roads in the region during the period.
While the number of grant applications completed by Upper Hunter Shire Council for community groups was above target (34 actual against 30 targeted) the value of grant funds received was down.
Children’s Services was a tough sector for Council in 2015. Against a backdrop of a flagging economy and job losses, parents in the Upper Hunter LGA put fewer children into care.
The Before School Care program operated restricted days (three per week) in response to reduced community demand.
Actual attendances were down against all targeted figures. The average number of children per day in After School Care was 12.15 (targeted 20); Before School Care was 4.8 (targeted 5); and Vacation Care was 20.1 (targeted 25).
The Scone and Upper Hunter Regional Saleyards saw a 13 per cent increase in cattle throughput over the period, with income up 22.8 per cent to $684,000.
Council surpassed its target of 65,000 cattle during 2014/2015, with actual numbers reaching 73,508.
On the real estate front, Council reported it failed to develop any lots during the period, a disappointing result when its target was eight.
However, all residential and commercial properties managed on behalf of ratepayers were fully occupied in Scone, Merriwa and Murrurundi over the 12 months.
In his Year In Review message, General Manager Waid Crockett, said 2014/2015 had seen major infrastructure projects delivered across the local government area.
Mr Crockett singled out the completion of the $450,000 Doolan’s Gully Bridge; the $720,000 replacement of Garland’s Bridge near Stewarts Brook; and the completion of renovations to the Youth Hostel on Segenhoe Road near Lake Glenbawn and the Old Court Theatre in Scone.
He also said Council was pleased to have completed $2.6 million of work on water and sewer works.