Have Your Say: Council calls for feedback on 2025-26 Draft Budget

Published on 03 June 2025

Northern Grampians Shire residents have until June 12 to provide feedback on the council’s 2025-26 Draft Budget.

Councillors approved the Draft Budget in-principle at a council meeting in Stawell on Monday.  

Mayor Karen Hyslop said the Budget’s development was part of an integrated process and was informed by the Council Plan 2021-25 and a 10-year financial plan.

She said the Budget was designed to ensure the council appropriately allocated resources to service the organisation’s short- and long-term activities and initiatives.

"Throughout the past few months we have worked alongside the council team to thoroughly consider all aspects of the organisation," she said.

“This year's Budget has been influenced by a range of factors, including operating within a rate-capped environment, rising inflation and cost of materials, and reduced funding opportunities from state and federal governments.

“Given the environment, we have a strong focus on financial viability and long-term sustainability. As part of the budget process, we have gone through a period of cost analysis and consolidation to determine ways to become more efficient and cost-effective, both internally and externally.”

The 2025-26 capital program totals $19.2 million and includes $7.8 million for roads; $4 million for buildings, including the St Arnaud pool development and Navarre clubroom development; $3 million for bridges; and $1.3 million for investment in parks and recreation.

Cr Hyslop said the Draft Budget complied with the State Government’s three-percent rate cap, and that the council was not proposing to take out any loans in the next financial year.

“Council is not considering borrowing any money as this would only mask any sustainability issues,” she said.

“The reality is, we are in a difficult position with a lack of outside funding, however we believe despite the challenges we have done the best we can for our community.”

The proposed Budget includes the next phase of the organisation’s adopted Revenue and Rating Plan, which continues a ‘floating differential’ model.

Cr Hyslop said the floating differential was introduced in response to volatility in property valuations at the beginning of the previous council term.

“In particular, there were significant movements in farmland valuations, which led to those properties paying a greater share of the total rates bill,” she said.

“The intent of the floating differential model was to fix the proportion of rates paid by each property type. This eliminates ‘rates shock’ caused by disproportionate valuation movements between property types.”

The Revenue and Rating Plan shows the council will phase in the floating differential over a four-year period, returning the proportion of rates paid by each property type to historical levels.

The plan also phases out the municipal charge by the 2025-26 year, benefiting lower-valued properties.

Cr Hyslop said the council would continue to model the impact of the changes after each annual revaluation and might readjust the floating differential percentages to ensure an equitable outcome was maintained.

“This will be confirmed in the annual budget each year,” she said.

Cr Hyslop thanked council staff for all their hard work throughout the budget process.

“It takes a lot of time and effort to put a document like this together,” she said.

Before formally adopting the Budget at an unscheduled council meeting on June 23, 2025, councillors will consider submissions from the public.

“It’s very important that people do have a read of it and do have their say. We really want to hear what our community thinks of our Budget,” Cr Hyslop said.  

Any person wishing to make a submission on the proposed Budget must do so in writing before Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 3pm.

Any person wishing to be heard in support of their written submission must request this in their submission and will need to appear in person or by a person acting on their behalf at a councillor briefing on Monday, June 16, 2025 in the Council Chambers, Pleasant Creek Historic Precinct, Stawell.

Submissions can be made in writing to Chief Executive Officer, Northern Grampians Shire Council, PO Box 580, Stawell, VIC, 3380 or online here.

All submissions will become a part of a document available to the public. People can view the 2025-26 Draft Budget online here or visit council customer services at Stawell Town Hall or St Arnaud Town Hall.

People can call (03) 5358 8700 or email ngshire@ngshire.vic.gov.au for a hard copy.