Council adopts 2018/19 Budget

Published on 28 June 2018

The increased cost of managing recycled waste and the impact of rate capping have been considered in the preparation of the 2018/19 Council Budget, which was adopted on 27 June 2018.

The 2018/19 Budget focuses on delivering the core functions as outlined in the Council Plan 2017-2021 including $1,293M on roads, $420,000 on bridges and $215,000 on footpaths under a $4.434M Capital Projects Program.

In 2015 the Victorian Government introduced rate capping legislation which provided for an annual rate cap set by the Minister for Local Government which controls general rate increases, and revenue, for all councils during that financial year. The cap for 2018/19 is 2.25%.

The Budget includes $27.1M revenue and $29.1M expenditure with a deficit of $2.008M. This deficit position is primarily due to an early payment of the Federal Government financial assistance grant of $2.083M. This payment of 50% of the Council’s Federal Government allocation was received in June 2018.

Chief Executive Officer Tony McIlroy said ongoing service delivery within a financially sustainable framework is central to the Council’s operations and budget considerations.

“This will be the third year the Council has been implementing its internally driven strategy of doing the same with less,” Mr McIlroy said.

“We have reduced our overheads and employee costs by $1.754M.

“We are continually working to ensure we are delivering services in the most efficient, sustainable way.

“There has never been a tougher time for rural Councils and the Council has been working on preparing a sustainable budget since late January.”

Download the adopted Benalla Rural City Budget 2018/19(PDF, 4MB)