Revenue from fines doubles as Melbourne delivers small budget surplus

The City of Melbourne will deliver a small budget surplus as revenue from general fines doubles and revenue from a host of services, including parking and childcare, increases slightly.

The council’s draft $781 million budget released on Tuesday squeaks into a surplus of $101,000 for the first time in five years.

But 15 of the council’s major projects have not received any funding for the next four years, including construction of the Greenline Project beyond the Birrarung Marr precinct, the improvement of the CBD’s “Little Streets”, the introduction of new office accommodation and the redevelopment of Melbourne City Baths.

Rates are set to increase by the maximum allowable amount of 2.75 per cent under the rate cap, with an average rates increase for property owners of $37.

Revenue from general fines, which includes fines for littering, and animal registration is set to increase by 59.8 per cent, from $2.3 million to $3.7 million.

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The increase is largely expected to be driven by fines collected from people failing to vote in the upcoming council elections in October.

Revenue from childcare and children’s programs is set to increase by 18.3 per cent, mainly due to an increase in rebates from opening two new childcare rooms, with childcare fees up from $142.50 a day to $149.

It is the last budget for Lord Mayor Sally Capp before she exits the role. Capp said she was proud to announce a surplus.