Thursday, 4 May 2017

Australian, NSW & Local Government Budgets Are Not In Proper Order.... Of Announcing Dates

Image result for Government budgetsEach tier of government announce forecast budgets based on simply past revenue  to future revenue difference and past expenses to forward expenses.

Some of us are always concerned of how elected governments affect voters also community members of each suburb, region, state and within our great nation. Our main concern is when we watch or  see released articles on the Annual Federal Budget due on the 2nd Tuesday of May of each year. This budget can tell if  the government is spending  money or collecting too much, especially  if it is affecting the family/ individual budget.

The two most import variables here are home loan interest rates, personal income taxes that affect families and individuals. As well as what funds are the Federal Government  provide and then flow onto State/Territory and Local Governments for financial support in running their areas.

Then we have the State annual budget announced towards the end of June being announced (over one month after the National Federal Budget).

They discuss costs of running state schools, hospitals, emergency services, public transport, roads, local councils and public housing. Their revenue is from State Revenue from fines and enforcement, local court fees, selling of government assets, public transport fares, land tax, Stamp Duty and road tolls and their share of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Following that, we have the local Council Budget community announcement, less than a week after the Federal Budget. Here the spending is on roads, path ways, removal of community rubbish, cleaning of public areas, park planning of new local areas, maintenance of parks and gardens and interaction with State and Federal Government Stake Holders for providing a  proper community infrastructure for all communities. Their revenue is basically  from  private and business rate payers, with government grants being provided from either State and/or Federal.

So my dilemma here is why the order or  providing  budget with either surpluses or deficits from different times allowable. My personal view is to have the  Federal Budget announced the first week, State/ Territory Budgets the week after and the week  after that  and final week Local Councils Budget.

Maybe, I'm sounding a bit weird here, that is the way I seek - like a domino affect - starting from the biggest tiered government (Federal) and end up at the smallest tiered government (Local). This is just a thought process and I don't think many people out in our community and wider communities have picked this up before. Life should be so simple and so should all Governments announcements of budgets. This will place announcements of all Budgets in order of  proper announcements.






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