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.
• A concise version of the Draft Budget is made publicly available for further community feedback.
• The final Budget is tabled for endorsement.