There has been misleading talk about the level of debt the council has incurred. It is important to bear in mind that the Burnside Council is an entity with $606 million in assets and an annual turnover of $39 million. If it was a business it would be a medium enterprise. It is wrong to compare this to a domestic household budget.
In 2010 the council inherited a $2 million deficit. A modest surplus is expected this financial year and rates have not changed over the past two years. The adoption of a long term financial plan has meant we have the capacity to borrow over ten years and still keep rates stable as well as maintaining a balanced budget. And our residents will have the benefit of a renewed swimming centre and a community hub in Glenunga. It’s all gain and no pain.