Overview
Council has voted to adopt its final budget for the upcoming financial year following extensive community consultation.
The budget strikes the right balance between the need for long-term financial sustainability, cost-of-living relief, and stimulation of the local economy.
A major highlight is the introduction of one free 2P parking session per vehicle, per day which is intended to support local businesses, especially in central Geelong while helping to reduce the cost of living.
The final budget also removes a range of fees, including the Permit to Burn Fee, Low Impact Film Fee and Community Event Permit for less than 100 people.
The annual rate increase is also lower than the Victorian Government’s 3 per cent rate cap at 2.5 per cent, helping to support essential services while keeping costs manageable.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the final budget achieves an operating surplus $509,000, and will pay down debt while selling assets which are surplus to future needs.
The key changes between the proposed and final budget are:
- a forecast operating surplus of $509,000, as opposed to the deficit in the proposed budget, thanks to further refinement of budget estimates
- increased funding for the Sports Lighting Program, bringing to total annual funding to $1 million
- the addition of $150,000 in funding for planning of footpaths in Mt Duneed
- funding of $95,000 for safety nets at North Shore Football Netball Club
- an increase in Pako Festa funding to a total of $100,000, up from $80,000 in the draft budget
- funding for the Central Geelong Market Initiative
- removal of the Permit to Burn Fee, Low Impact Film Fee, and the Community Event Permit (Less than 100 People), and reduction of the Heaped Waste Disposal Fee
- funding of $20,000 for Barwon Heads Football Netball Club
- funding for Active Geelong of $50,000.
You can view a detailed
snapshot of the budget, or access the full document from the menu on the left.