An important element of the budget preparation is to ensure it meets council’s responsibilities to the ratepayers and has optimum staffing levels with skills to ensure the operation is effective and efficient.

This can often be achieved through the use of external consultants working with the council staff and councillors.

Indigo shire shares a common border with Alpine shire and both councils have similar population levels and fiscal structure. Last year’s budgets for both councils identified similar staffing levels and expenditure, with Indigo shire’s total employee costs of $11,388,000 and Alpine shire $11,114,000.

However, the Alpine council has carried out a careful review of staffing levels.

They have achieved a reduction in full-time equivalent positions from 85 to 59 through voluntary redundancies and natural attrition, which will provide annual savings of $1.5 million.

This saving has been achieved without any reduction in services.

Alpine’s mayor stated “We were obviously overstaffed and gave a directive to our CEO to do a review and cut $1.5 million off our budget”.

Now is an opportune time for the Indigo council managers and councillors to engage in discussions with their Alpine counterparts, to identify common areas of savings and then prepare a considered and effective budget for the new financial year.

— ROBIN McLIESH,

Wooragee