What makes up the budget?

• What does Council have to consider when setting its budget?

• Council must consider how the actions in the Council Plan will be paid for, as well as all other legally required responsibilities.

  Yarra Ranges Council's annual budget is around $240 million. While some of this money can be allocated differently, there are consequences to those decisions. For example:

  - We could spend less on asset renewal projects to reduce expenses. However, this would increase maintenance costs, to try keep the assets functioning while waiting for replacement/renewal.

  - We could delay the construction of new infrastructure, but this would mean placing demands on existing infrastructure, like roads, beyond what is acceptable.

  - We could reduce service levels, like mowing less frequently, however, this would mean that our parks and natural spaces would be less inviting and/or not as functional.

  The challenge each year for Council is to try and deliver a budget that meets the needs and expectations of our communities, while remaining affordable.

• What is CPI?

• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average change in prices paid for goods and services over time. It is a crucial tool for gauging inflation and tracking changes in the cost of living.

  The CPI affects Council budgets as it includes costs that Council must pay, such as electricity and fuel. For example, the equipment making the roads need fuel and keeping the streetlights on requires us to pay the electricity bills.

  Also, many Council contracts are linked to the CPI. As a result, when the CPI rises, Council costs can increase as well.

• What other factors contribute to Council costs?

• Council is impacted by increasing construction costs, which have risen by over 5.9%*. Similar to housing costs, expenses for constructing roads, footpaths, and renewing community and sporting buildings have increased substantially recently.

  Council is responsible for about $7.2 billion in assets, including roads, footpaths, municipal buildings, community facilities and drains. All of these assets need to be maintained as part of Council’s operating costs. They also need to be renewed/replaced when they reach the end of their useful life which needs to be factored into Council’s budget.

  Council delivers over one hundred different services to the communities across the municipality, all of which cost money to provide.

  Council regularly considers expenditure management, efficiency savings, and continuous improvement measures to offset increasing costs.

  *ABS data September 2024.

• Why do I have to pay rates?

• Council’s main source of income is rates. These are levied on all rateable properties across the municipality under the Local Government Act 2009. This includes all types of properties, including homes, businesses, farms and wineries.

  Council is required to legally provide some services on behalf of all levels of government such as planning and local laws officers.

  Council sets rates at a level sufficient to pay expenses over time, including meeting its requirements to repay debt.

  Quite simply, if our communities did not pay rates, Council could not afford to provide services and infrastructure such as our roads, parks, sporting grounds and community facilities.

How does this impact me?

• I don’t use all Council’s services so why should I have to pay for them?

• Did you know that rates are actually the lowest level of tax applied across all three levels of government?

  Just as income taxes and GST are used to fund services and infrastructure across the state and country, rates fund the cost of services and infrastructure across our municipality.

  They are not collected and spent for each ward or individual. Under the Local Government Act 2009, a Council must represent the current and future interests of the residents of the entire municipality.

  Therefore, when considering Council’s budget each year, Councillors must consider both the needs and priorities of the whole municipality, balanced with the needs of their ward area. This is done through discussion and feedback from each Councillor over several months. These discussions must also consider the affordability of rates for our communities and the financial sustainability of Council.

• Are there relief measures available for community members struggling with the rate increase?

• Council recognises that rate increases can be challenging for some community members, particularly those on fixed incomes or facing financial hardship. If you anticipate difficulties meeting these payments, please contact our Rates Officers at 1300 368 333 to discuss options that may assist you.

• How will my feedback used?

• We invite you to have your say on Council's budget because you are a valuable source of local expertise. Your feedback will help shape Council decisions that affect residents, workers, and visitors across Yarra Ranges, now and into the future.

  All submissions will get a response from Council. This will explain how the feedback is reflected in the considerations around the 2025-26 budget and future financial plans for the organisation.

• How does Council protect my privacy?

• Yarra Ranges Council takes our privacy obligations seriously and you can read more about how we treat your personal information collected on this website.

  The collection, use and disclosure of your personal information is regulated by Victorian Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014. To find out more information, please visit the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner’s website at: www.ovic.vic.gov.au

  Find out more about how Council deals with your data and privacy.

• How can I stay up to date with this project?

• Click the [+Follow] button at the top of the page to stay updated on this project.

  You will need to join or sign into Shaping Yarra Ranges first, but then we can keep you in the loop with updates and opportunities to be involved with this project.