Our Budget

The 2024-2025 budget process is underway and we are seeking community feedback.

 

Our annual budget 2023-2024 has been adopted following community consultation and public submissions.

Each year, our Budget provides services for people at all stages of life, maintaining our infrastructure, community facilities and parks, providing critical community services, as well as rubbish and recycling collections.

We have prepared a $48.5 million budget(PDF, 935KB) , which highlights the resources needed to deliver more than 100 services in our community under the Council Plan 2021-2025 pillars of:

• A healthy, connected, and inclusive community
• An environment for people and nature
• A resilient and growing economy.

We will do this within an increase to average rates income of 3.5% under the Victorian Government’s Fair Go Rates System, as we continue to review processes to work more efficiently and prioritise investment, and advocate for funding.

Read the 2023-24 Budget(PDF, 935KB)

We’re also working to freeze collection charges for kerbside waste at the same level as the previous two years.

  

Revenue and Rating Plan

The 2021-2025 Revenue and Rating Plan sets out how Council will generate income to deliver the Council Plan, Council Services and infrastructure commitments over a 4 year period. The plan will define the revenue and rating envelope within which Council proposes to operate.

 

Financial Plan

The Financial Plan defines the broad financial boundaries for Council over the next ten years.

The plan is made up of three main sections:

• the Financial Policies that set out the financial targets that ensure Council remains financially sustainable
• the Financial Strategy that identifies the approach Council intends to take to achieve the financial policies
• the Financial Statements that apply the financial strategies to a ten year financial model to ensure that Council meets its Financial Policy targets

The Local Government Act 2020 (The Act) requires Councils to prepare a ten year Financial Plan in the year following a general election through the introduction of governance and supporting principles which include an integrated approach to planning, monitoring and performance reporting.

The Financial Plan seeks to achieve the following objectives:

• Maintain the existing range and level of services
• Targeted investment to address Council's Declaration of a Climate Emergency
• Maintain a strong cash position, ensuring Council remains financially sustainable in the long-term
• Achieve underlying operating statement surpluses in the majority of years
• Maintain debt levels below prudential guidelines
• Continue to pursue recurrent grant funding for strategic capital funds from the state and federal governments
• Maintain appropriate levels of investment in renewal capital to reduce the escalating risk and maintenance of ageing infrastructure.
• Asset renewal projects will be prioritised over expenditure on new assets

Fees and charges

Fees and charges are assessed annually as part of Council's Budget.

See a full list of fees and charges for 2023-2024(PDF, 287KB).