The Surf Coast Shire Council has endorsed their 2025/26 budget, highlighted by a $2 million unallocated surplus.
The budget showed a record capital works program of $52.65 million, which includes funding for new and multi-year projects and a massive $25 million for infrastructure.
It also announced a total average rate rise of 3%, in line with the Victorian government cap.
Deputy Mayor Libby Stapleton said the process was thorough and rigorous, focused on providing a sustainable future for the community.
Cr Stapleton said the unallocated cash surplus would be crucial for future years.
“When you look at our 10 year long-term plan that $2.1 million is essential in terms of us being able to continue to deliver those services and maintenance over the next 10 years,” she said.
The budget introduced temporary measures for businesses and drought-impacted farmers, Mayor Mike Bodsworth saying they hoped to ease the financial burden they face.
“Farmers have had an extremely difficult year due to the drought, and freezing rates for farm land at 2024-25 levels is one step we can take to ease financial pressure,” he said.
“We also felt it was important to acknowledge that the drought has had flow-on impacts to other businesses in the shire, who were already feeling the effects of wider cost of living pressures.”
Since the release of the draft budget, Council’s forecast income has been boosted by higher-than-expected Victorian Government grants and commission funding of around $125,000.
The additional income has been allocated towards additional resourcing in civil operations, to maintain assets such as roads and footpaths, and extra support to community houses.
