Draft Annual Business Plan & Budget 2023-2024

Have your say on what Council should priorities in the upcoming financial year.

Background

The District Council of Grant has developed a Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2023-2024, and invites the community to have your say to shape what is delivered and the associated budget for the upcoming financial year.

The Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget sets out Council’s proposed services, programs and projects for 2023-2024. It also aims to maintain effective services for the community and achieve the long term objectives for the District Council of Grant as set out in the Strategic Management Plan 2020-2030.

The document has been prepared on the basis of maintaining an appropriate level of services to the community, without imposing an unrealistic rate burden on ratepayers. The provision of services by Council is a reflection of meeting both Council’s obligations under legislation and the community’s desire for services and facilities.

Summary of the Draft Plan

Council has budgeted for approx. $18.4 million in operating income and $18.6 million in operating expenditure with a net operating deficit of $203,000 forecast for 2023-2024.

This is in part due to an increase in electricity, fuel, waste disposal costs, and insurance at levels well above inflation. The draft budget has been conservatively framed so any savings in these areas will only decrease the forecast deficit.

At this early stage in the budget setting process there remains some uncertainty surrounding the timing and amount of the forward payment of Federal Government Grants and the impact on Council’s forecast deficit, which is not within Council’s control.

With respect to the rating component of the draft budget, Council considered the impact of increased valuations on ratepayers and the cost of living is looking to implement the following key items:

• Maintain the 10% discount rate in the dollar for Primary Production property ratepayers;
• Increase the minimum rate to $650 (+$15 / 2.36%);
• Maintain differential rates by land use category;

The proposed general rate increase is 7.60%, which is marginally lower than the Adelaide CPI rate (7.9%) as reported on 31 March 2023.

There is a proposed decrease in the rate in the dollar of approximately 19% for residential, commercial, industry and vacant land. This is amongst the lowest rate in the dollar in the Limestone Coast. Based on valuation movements, the average increase in residential rates will be approx. $50.00.

Council is proposing a reduction to the primary production rate in the dollar approximately of 17%, which remains 90% of the residential rate. Based on valuation movements, the average increase in primary production rates will be approximately $270 - $280. Residential and other rate categories are likely to increase by approximately $50.

Changes to other services charges include:

• Mobile Garbage Bin Service $285 (+$15.00)
• Community Waste Management System
  • Vacant Land $590 (+$25.00)
  • Occupied $695 (+$30.00)

Another item that people often ask Council about is how much will the Regional Landscape Levy (formerly the NRM Levy) be next year? For the 2023-2024 financial year, Council is required to collect on behalf of the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, an amount of $685,647 (a 9.40% increase on 2022-2023).

Funding for sponsorship, donations and community support will continue, with a proposed increase in funding to approx. $213,000 (+ 22,000) available for various community groups and to support events in 2023-2024.

During 2023-2024, the Essential Services Council of South Australia (ESCOSA) will conduct a review of Council’s financial sustainability, standard and breadth of services to ensure efficient delivery of these services. The cost of this review is $40,000 and has been included in the operating costs, contributing to the proposed operating deficit of $203,000.

A major ongoing expense that Council is committed to each year is the maintenance of the road network. There are approx. 1,500km’s of sealed and unsealed roads which require regular maintenance. A budget allocation of $2.6M (excluding depreciation of $2.7M) is required to maintain service standards. Total capital works of $6.3M are planned for 2023-2024.

The Mount Gambier Regional Airport and Mount Gambier & District Saleyards are important commercial activities that Council continues to maintain and operate on behalf of our ratepayers and the region. Rising costs, passenger numbers and stock volumes are providing challenges for Council to maintain these important facilities in a sustainable manner.

Have your say:

• Online: via the ideas or feedback section below.
• Attend a Public Meeting: Monday, 19 June 2023 between 4:00pm - 5:00pm at the Council Chambers (324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier)
• Written: download the feedback form, complete and email back to info@dcgrant.sa.gov.au, drop off in person to our office, or post to PO Box 724, Mount Gambier, SA, 5290.

Consultation opens Friday, 19 May 2023 and closes at 5:00pm Friday, 9 June 2023.

Following the consultation period a feedback report will be developed. Council will be presented with recommendations for the final plan to be considered by Council at its ordinary meeting on Monday, 19 June 2023.

Following endorsement, a copy of the final Annual Business Plan and Budget 2023-2024 will be available in the documents section to the right of the page, or on Council's website. Hard copies are available on request at our Offices and the Port MacDonnell Community Centre.