Budgeting to stay in Marton

The Marton and District Budget Service Inc is a part of the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Service Inc.

Budget adviser training: One full day for six weeks, or 12 evenings, then three to six months, depending on confidence, to become a budget adviser.

Marton and District Budget Service Inc, 248 Broadway, 06 327 4537, 0278722477; every Wednesday and Thursday, 9.30am-3.30pmWe need at least another six [new budget advisers] in Marton. Glenys BuddenThe Marton budget service is staying alive and staying in Marton.

And next week it will have a new management team and officers.

At a special general meeting (SGM) last month the Marton community took back control of their budget service after the former management committee stepped away at its annual general meeting.

The next step would have been that Marton would become a satellite office of the Wanganui Budget Advisory Service.

But at the October 26 SGM, attended by 37 people including Mayor Chalky Leary, who chaired the meeting, the locals voted not to wind up the service and instead called for a new management team and officers.

At another SGM on November 16, a new management team and officers will be elected from the 11 who have signalled their interest in standing for the Marton and District Budget Service Inc (MDBSI).

MDBSI co-ordinator Glenys Budden said they were also calling for new budget advisers, which would add to the new team and rejuvenation of the service.

"We need at least another six in Marton," Mrs Budden said.

Since July 1, 60 clients have used the MDBSI service, and last year 165 clients used the service.

Mrs Budden said referrals came from people self-referrals, Work and Income, businesses, creditors and other organisations.