THE average Casey ratepayer will pay an extra $56 a year under the council's $190million draft 2008-09 budget.
Casey rates will rise 5.9 per cent under the proposed budget released last week.
The suggested hike is in line with the council's decision earlier this year to limit any increase to 1.5 per cent above the Consumer Price Index.
Rate rises under last year's budget were set at 5.8 per cent.
A council spokeswoman said the average Casey ratepayer would pay an extra $56.01 per annum, or $1.08 a week.
Mayor Janet Halsall said the new figure would allow ratepayers to keep paying lower rates than residents of most other Victorian municipalities, while also ensuring the continued well-serviced growth of the city.
"Allowing for infrastructure projects to the value of $43 million and services to $147million, the draft budget is a responsible and balanced response to the needs of the Casey community, providing a solid framework for citywide expenditure in the 2008-09 financial year,'' Cr Halsall said.
The most contentious item this time around is the funding set aside to lure the Melbourne Football Club to Casey Fields.
The budget allocates $750,000 for extensions to the original pavilion and $140,000 to seal the car park.
The draft budget, now on display for public comment, is due to be adopted at the June 17 council meeting.
Written submissions from the public must be received by 5pm on June 5.
Casey councillor Kevin Bradford said it was more important than ever for residents to take the time to look at the budget and have their say about how their rates should be spent.
Cr Bradford said the budget had funded some excellent projects, including the Cranbourne Aquatic & Leisure Centre (which received $9.4million), a football carpark and landscaping at Sweeney Reserve, ($620,000) and traffic greyspots throughout the city ($510,000).
"But more than $2million could have been allocated in a more responsible way,'' he said.
"To think that certain councillors are supporting more than $1 million being spent and which was added at the last moment without any business plan, at the behest of the CEO to secure the Melbourne Football Club coming to train at Casey Fields during summer for only a few years is totally offensive to the residents who elected them,'' he said.
"When you add this amount to the suggested amount of money that will be required to secure an elite soccer academy at Casey Fields, residents must stand together and submit their objection to what amounts to an abuse of ratepayers' money at the expense of local clubs right throughout the city.''
Written submissions on any aspect of the budget should be sent to City of Casey CEO Mike Tyler, PO Box 1000, Narre Warren, 3805.
The draft document can be viewed at the Civic Centre, the Amberley Park Shopping Centre in Narre Warren South, the Centro Cranbourne Shopping Centre and via the Casey website - www.casey.vic.gov.au/budget
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