GAWLER residents will be able to view and comment on Gawler Council’s draft Annual Business Plan and budget from next Wednesday.

Elected members met last night – after The Bunyip’s print deadline – to discuss the upcoming budget, which was delayed in March due to financial uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The draft budget presented at the meeting outlined a plan to see general rate revenue rise by 2.4 per cent – around $530,000 – with 100 per cent of the increase being handed back to eligible ratepayers as remissions.

This differs from council’s original COVID-19 ratepayer support plan, which proposed only handing back half of the general rate rise.

According to a report presented at last night’s meeting, households will see a $0.75 per week increase on their council rates.

“Given that, to date, the increase in the average residential property valuation is 2.28 per cent… it is currently envisaged that council would only have to marginally increase its residential general rate-in-the-dollar to achieve the general rate revenue targets outlined in the 2020/21 draft budget,” the report read.

“Based on updated property rating data received from the state valuation office, the indicative ‘new’ general rates revenue from growth is currently estimated at 1.15 per cent.”

Ratepayers seeking remissions due to financial hardship brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic need to apply for the scheme once the budget has been officially adopted.

According to a form which would be provided to people seeking the remission, it will need to be proven that a residential ratepayer has lost more than 30 per cent of their income as a result of the pandemic or are currently receiving the Job Keeper payment.

For commercial ratepayers, it will need to be proven that the business has lost more than 30 per cent of its profitability and either be receiving the Job Keeper payment for its employees or have closed its doors.

If the draft budget was endorsed last night, the public consultation period will begin next Wednesday.