Draft Annual Business Plan & Budget 2025-2026

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 goals detailed in the Strategic Plan 2024 - 2034.

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 libraries, rural transaction centres, community development, public health and safety, animal management, community and sporting facilities, economic development, environmental plans and projects, and community and cultural development.

Key Elements of the Draft Plan

Operating Income and Expenditure

The Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2025-2026 details a budget of approximately $20.386 million in operating income and $20.489 million in operating expenditure. This results in a deficit of $123,000 for the upcoming 2025-2026 financial year.

Saleyards Transformation Project

The Draft 2025-2026 Annual Business Plan and Budget forecasts capital spend of $7,426,000 on the Saleyards Transformation Project. This project is proposed to be a multi-year project to the value of $15.4 million. It is estimated Council will contribute 50% funding subject to obtaining 50% matched grant funding, noting $2.7 million already secured form the State Government. Alternatively, Council may pursue the project subject to a modified scope meeting the needs of the Saleyards, up to a maximum contribution of $7.7 million and retaining the State Government’s financial contribution of $2.7 million.

The Saleyards Transformation Project was identified as a short term focus area under the Economy Goal within Council’s Strategic Plan 2024 - 2034. Council will continue to lobby for funding or will consider reducing the scope of the project to spend no more than $7.7 million of Council’s funds.

Other Funding and Community Projects

For a basic breakdown of how 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 2024-2025 document.

Have Your Say

Our community is invited to review the Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget for 2025-2026 and have your say on the proposed works and services. Feedback can be submitted by:

• Completing the online feedback form below

• Emailing feedback to info@dcgrant.sa.gov.au

• Submitting a hard copy feedback form or letter to:
  • District Council of Grant Principal Office, 324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier
  • Port MacDonnell Community Complex, 5-7 Charles Street, Mount Gambier
  • PO Box 724, Mount Gambier SA 5290

• Attend a public meeting on Monday 16 June 2025 between 4:00pm and 5:00pm in the Council Chambers at 324 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier
  
  

Written submissions must be submitted by 5:00pm Tuesday 10 June 2025.