Submissions have now closed in response to the Draft Budget 2025-26 - thank you to everyone who took the time to review and respond. Feedback will now be considered, and the final Budget 2025-26 tabled at the 18 June 2025 Council Meeting.


Background

Prior to 30 June every year (with 1 July marking the start of a new financial year), Council is legislatively required to prepare and adopt a budget for the next financial year, as a key requirement of the Local Government Act 2020.

Council’s budget forms part of the Integrated Strategic Planning and Reporting Framework that includes Council’s Community Vision, Council Plan, Financial Plan, Revenue and Rating Plan, Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan, Disability Action Plan, Workforce Plan, and Asset Plan.

The budget supports the delivery of the key strategic objectives outlined in the Council Plan, while also considering the longer-term strategic objectives in the plans listed above.

How the budget process works

  • Council officers begin preparing budget bids internally for consideration, based on strategic Council priorities and team needs.
  • Community submissions invited and tabled for consideration, based on strategic Council priorities and community needs.
  • Council's Corporate Directorate, specifically the Finance and Reporting Department, consider all new submissions and brief on recommendations internally in the context of already committed expenditure, expected revenue and strategic Council priorities.
  • NEW: A concise version of the Draft Budget 2025-26 will be made publicly available for further community feedback.
  • Council's Budget 2025-26 is tabled for endorsement, likely at the June 2025 Council Meeting.

What we are seeking

Following an earlier stage of community consultation, which invited community ideas and feedback to suggest or support initiatives to be funded in 2025-26, we are now providing an additional opportunity for community feedback on a concise version of the Draft Budget 2025-26.

Further feedback is invited over a two-week period from Thursday 24 April to Thursday 8 May 2025 and can be made online via the form below, or delivered in writing via mail (PO Box 151, Kyneton VIC 3444) or in person to one of Council’s customer service centres.