Draft Annual Business Plan & Budget 2024-2025

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Background

The District Council of Grant develops an Annual Business Plan and Budget each year which details what works and services are going to be delivered to our community, and the associated budget to fund those works and services. The Plan is prepared in a way that it maintains effective services for our community and helps achieve long-term goals detailed in the Strategic Management Plan 2020-2030. Noting that Council's Strategic Management Plan is currently being reviewed and updated.

The following essential services of Local Government are incorporated into the Annual Business Plan and Budget:

  • Regulating compliance, by-laws, fines and dogs;
  • Setting rates, preparing an annual budget and creating strategic plans for the communities future;
  • Managing infrastructure: roads, footpaths, parks, street lighting, storm-water drainage and open public spaces;
  • Street cleaning and collecting rubbish;
  • Planning development and building safety; and
  • Environmental health services.

Council strives to provide additional services and programs in response to community needs and plan for within the Annual Business Plan and Budget. These include:


Key Elements of the Draft Plan

In the 2023-2024 financial year, the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) conducted an independent review of Council's financial information to ensure efficient delivery of key services and that community benefit is at the forefront of decision making. Following the conclusion of the review, ESCOSA deemed the District Council of Grant financially sustainable now and leading into the future.

The Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2024-2025 details a budget of approximately $19.8 million in operating income and $19.6 million in operating expenditure. This results in a net surplus of $177,000 for the 2024-2025 financial year.

For a basic breakdown of how key areas this funding is sourced and distributed to the community, refer to the Budget Breakdown section below. For a detailed breakdown of this information, refer to the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2024-2025 document.

For the first time, the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2024-2025 details a proposal to expand the current Mobile Garbage Bin Collection Service area in the new financial year to an additional 85 properties. This is to allow Council to continue to grow the capacity of the Service in the broader interests of our community. Details of the proposed expansion can be found on page 28 of the draft document and in the below Bin Expansion mapping tool.

It should be noted that in this early stage of the budget setting process, there remains some uncertainty around the timing and amount of forward payments of Federal Government Grants and the impact on Council's forecast surplus, which is not within Council's control.


Have Your Say

Our community is invited to review the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2024-2025 and their say on the proposed works and services. Feedback can be submitted by:

  • Online:
  • Written:
    • Write a letter and post to PO Box 724, Mount Gambier SA 5290 or deliver to 324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier
    • Email feedback to info@dcgrant.sa.gov.au
  • In person:
    • Attend a public meeting on Monday 20 May 2024 between 4:00pm and 5:00pm in the Council Chambers at 324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier


Written submissions close 5:00pm Thursday 9 May 2024.


Background

The District Council of Grant develops an Annual Business Plan and Budget each year which details what works and services are going to be delivered to our community, and the associated budget to fund those works and services. The Plan is prepared in a way that it maintains effective services for our community and helps achieve long-term goals detailed in the Strategic Management Plan 2020-2030. Noting that Council's Strategic Management Plan is currently being reviewed and updated.

The following essential services of Local Government are incorporated into the Annual Business Plan and Budget:

  • Regulating compliance, by-laws, fines and dogs;
  • Setting rates, preparing an annual budget and creating strategic plans for the communities future;
  • Managing infrastructure: roads, footpaths, parks, street lighting, storm-water drainage and open public spaces;
  • Street cleaning and collecting rubbish;
  • Planning development and building safety; and
  • Environmental health services.

Council strives to provide additional services and programs in response to community needs and plan for within the Annual Business Plan and Budget. These include:


Key Elements of the Draft Plan

In the 2023-2024 financial year, the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) conducted an independent review of Council's financial information to ensure efficient delivery of key services and that community benefit is at the forefront of decision making. Following the conclusion of the review, ESCOSA deemed the District Council of Grant financially sustainable now and leading into the future.

The Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2024-2025 details a budget of approximately $19.8 million in operating income and $19.6 million in operating expenditure. This results in a net surplus of $177,000 for the 2024-2025 financial year.

For a basic breakdown of how key areas this funding is sourced and distributed to the community, refer to the Budget Breakdown section below. For a detailed breakdown of this information, refer to the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2024-2025 document.

For the first time, the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2024-2025 details a proposal to expand the current Mobile Garbage Bin Collection Service area in the new financial year to an additional 85 properties. This is to allow Council to continue to grow the capacity of the Service in the broader interests of our community. Details of the proposed expansion can be found on page 28 of the draft document and in the below Bin Expansion mapping tool.

It should be noted that in this early stage of the budget setting process, there remains some uncertainty around the timing and amount of forward payments of Federal Government Grants and the impact on Council's forecast surplus, which is not within Council's control.


Have Your Say

Our community is invited to review the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2024-2025 and their say on the proposed works and services. Feedback can be submitted by:

  • Online:
  • Written:
    • Write a letter and post to PO Box 724, Mount Gambier SA 5290 or deliver to 324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier
    • Email feedback to info@dcgrant.sa.gov.au
  • In person:
    • Attend a public meeting on Monday 20 May 2024 between 4:00pm and 5:00pm in the Council Chambers at 324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier


Written submissions close 5:00pm Thursday 9 May 2024.

  • Capital Works

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    Council have scheduled to invest $7.2 million in to capital works projects in the 2024-2025 financial year. These projects fall under the following categories with the associated funding amount:

    • $479,500 - Building Program:
      • $342,500 - Community building projects
      • $137,000 - Administrative building projects
    • $59,000 - Structure and Furniture
    • $148,500 - Information and Communications Technology Program
    • $3,584,241 - Transport Infrastructure Program
      • $1,282,190 - Road resheeting projects
      • $2,133,551 - Road construction projects
      • $168,500 - Footpath and kerbing projects
    • $162,192 - Community Wastewater Management Systems
    • $830,000 - Mount Gambier Regional Airport
    • $20,000 - Mount Gambier & District Saleyards
    • $1,958,000 - Feet Management and Plant Replacement Program
      • $703,000 - Fleet management
      • $1,255,000 - Plant replacement

    Further details on the Capital Works Program can be found on page 17 of the Draft 2024-2025 Annual Business Plan and Budget.

  • Major Community Projects

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    The District Council of Grant is investing the following funding into key projects for our community:

    • $89,000 - Telstra Towers (year 1 of 3 contribution)
    • $40,000 - Local Heritage Survey and Local Heritage Code Amendment
    • $80,000 - Coastal Adaptation Project (subject to additional funding from the Coastal Protection Board)
    • $50,000 - Corporate Branding Strategy

  • Rating

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    Council has considered the impact of increased valuations on ratepayers and the cost of living. In response, Council 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 $680 (+$30 / 4.62%);
    • Maintain differential rates by land use category.

    The proposed general rate increase is 4.80% as per the December Adelaide CPI rate as reported on 31 March 2024.

    There is a proposed decrease in the rate in the dollar* of approximately 1.23% 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. $42.00.

    Council is also proposing a reduction to the primary production rate in the dollar* approximately of 1.11%, which remains 90% of the residential rate. Based on valuation movements, the average increase in primary production rates will be approximately $183.00.

    *Rate in the dollar refers to the total amount of money to be raised in general rates being divided by the total value of all rateable properties within the district. The final figure is called the 'rate in the dollar'.

  • Road Networks

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    A major ongoing expense that Council is committed to each year is the maintenance of the road network. There are approximately 1,500km’s of sealed and unsealed roads which require regular maintenance.

    The District Council of Grant has allocated a total of $2.9M (excluding depreciation of $2.7M) to maintain this road network and service standards.

  • Service Charges

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    Council provides essential services to our community which incur a service charge. The following service charges are proposed to be implemented in the 2024-2025 financial year:

    • $300 (+$15.00) - Mobile Garbage Bin Collection Service
    • Community Waste Management System
      1. $615 (+$25.00) - Vacant Land
      2. $725 (+$30.00) - Occupied

    The total Regional Landscape Levy (formerly the NRM Levy) amount required to be collected will also need to be altered in the 2024-2025 financial year. This is proposed to increase by 3.04% to $706,466 as instructed by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board. Council collect this amount on the Board's behalf.

  • Sponsorship, Donations and Community Support

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    The District Council of Grant will continue to allocate funds for sponsorships, donations and community support.

    It is proposed that an increase of funding is made to approximately $206,000 (+ 9,000). This will be made available to various community groups and events in 2024-2025.

Page last updated: 09 May 2024, 05:03 PM