Council’s total income at the end of the 2017 financial year was $723.7 million, including $90.3 million of capital grants and contributions and operating expenses of $568 million.
Council’s operating surplus before capital grants, contributions and any gains from amalgamation was $65.4 million.
Council Mayor Jane Smith said Council had recorded a significant surplus and was committed to ensuring this was spent directly on the services and facilities the community needed, wanted and valued.
“Key priorities will be to deliver those essential services that our community expects and have told us they want including better roads, footpaths, drainage, recreational facilities and healthy waterways,” Mayor Smith said.
“Now our financial position is clear, I look forward to working with staff to better integrate essential service delivery and the growing infrastructure needs of the Coast, while protecting and enhancing our natural environment to create liveable communities.”
The financial reports have been referred to external audit and a further report will be tabled at a council meeting next year.
Cr Best asked a number of questions at the meeting, saying he was asking questions because the public were not at the briefing held for the councillors before the public meeting.
He urged the public to speak to their councillors if they wanted work done in their wards because work was being done now on the next budget.
