Draft Annual Business Plan & Budget 2024-2025

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:
  • Complete the feedback form below
  • Submit feedback specifically related to Mobile Garbage Bin Collections via the Bin Expansion mapping tool
• 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.