Rates Assembly Monday 2nd December
I have been reviewing Grouville's 23/24 accounts supplied with the notice for Monday's rates assembly. I also reminded myself of the points arising from last year's assembly
Often I find a graph speaks a thousand words. Particularly in relation to complex issues like Roads Committee budgets, expenditure, underspends and reserves. I think my graph below may provide some transparency.
What does it show?
1. The parish have been historically poor at estimating annual roads expenditure. This appears to have got worse since 2022.
2. 90% of the General Account surplus for 23/24 is made up of the underspend on the roads budget. I questioned the big increase in the roads budget at the 23/24 parish assembly and the ability to spend it in the remainder of the financial year. We could have avoided the increase in the rate per quarter last year. A time when many parishioners were feeling the enormity of the pressures of escalating cost of living. The parish roads committee did not spend its budget in 23/24.
3. Note that the underspend for 23/24 is almost identical to the budget proposed for 24/25. Are the projects for 24/25 new roads projects? If not parishioners are being asked to pay twice for the same projects to be completed.
What does all this mean?
It means that the surplus in the General Account (from underspends in 23/24 budget) can be utilised to balance the 24/25 budget and maintain the current pence per quarter rate, or even reduce it.
Parishioners of Grouville, this is in your hands. You need to turn up to the parish assembly on Monday to influence the rate per quarter you pay. Your vote really does count at these meetings.
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