2024-25 Budget adopted

Strathbogie Shire Council is pleased to release the 2024-2025 Budget, which maintains financial stability while recognising the challenging financial environment faced by our organisation and the ongoing impacts of cost-of-living pressures being experienced by our community.

These conditions are made more challenging given we operate in a rate capped environment. Council has considered these factors alongside the need to ensure we continue to deliver a long term sustainable financial position.

The 2024-25 budget seeks to strengthen our future by focusing on maintaining and improving our existing assets and continuing to deliver services to our community.

Rate cappping

This year’s budget was developed to align with the priorities of our community and is inclusive of annual average rate increase in line with the Fair Go Rates system rating cap set by the Victorian Government of 2.75 per cent for 2024-25.

We acknowledge that the rate impact for individual properties will vary, as rates are calculated on the value of property as at 1st January 2024, which is a date set by the Valuer General. Any changes to an individual property’s value, whether it be higher or lower, after this date will be reflected in future valuation cycle.

Waste collection

Waste collection and disposal charges will raise 4 per cent in recognition of the pressures faced by waste sector in terms of fuel prices and increases in state government landfill levies.

Following a review of service charges, an opportunity has been taken to restructure the charges which includes the removal of the Tree Management Levy whilst also maintaining expenditure on tree maintenance estimated at $1.2 million.

Operating budget

The 2024-25 budget provides for operating expenditure of $37.8 million on services. This includes $6.8 million to maintain roads, drains, bridges, footpaths, parks and reserves, $1.5 million to strategic and statutory planning and $700,000 for  community development. Operating expenditure is also used to fund important services such as libraries, maternal and child health, swimming pools and arts and culture.

This year’s budget includes new initiatives including;

• Preparation of 4-year council plan following the council election in October 2024.
• Conduct of the election and induction of new Councillors.
• LED upgrade to street lights (subject to grant)
• A program of road safety audits.
• Funding to progress implementation of strategic planning studies (flood, rural land use and rural residential strategies).

Capital works

This years’ budget provides $9.9 million capital works program, in addition to $3.6 million carried forward from 2023-24.

The capital works program include projects like:

• Female Friendly change facilities at Longwood Recreation Reserve $620,000 (subject to government funding).
• Increased funding for road rehabilitation and reasealing.
• Creation of dedicated road reseal preparation crew.
• Implementation of new corporate information technology to improve customer service and reporting – joint project with 3 other councils.

Pitch My Project

Council has endorsed six projects as part of the Pitch My Project initiative which saw 15 projects presented to the community for a vote.

• $50,000 for Euroa Strathbogie Shire Art Trail
• $50,000 for Strathbogie Walking Path (provisionally based on seeking further advice and direction from the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action regarding native vegetation impacts)
• $50,000 for Euroa Branding Project Stage 2
• $50,000 for Longwood Nature Play Space Stage 2
• $50,000 for Avenel Memorial Hall
• $50,000 for Ruffy Tablelands Centre Verandah

Thank you to everyone who took part.