2025-26 Budget

We're now inviting feedback on the Proposed 2025-26 Budget. Council has carefully considered the community feedback received through the early budget engagement process over 2 months, receiving 117 submissions, which have influenced the final draft. The final budget will be put to Council for adoption on 24 June.

You can view the Proposed 2025-26 Budget on this page. You can also phone us on (03) 5775 8555 to request a print copy for collection.

Budget highlights

We've proposed a 2.75% rate increase, which is lower than the State Government Rate Cap of 3.00%, with a total operating expenditure of $30.4 million and a $20.75 million Capital Works Program.

Our proposal also includes a further reduction in waste charges, following a renegotiated contract with our service providers and the introduction of FOGO (green bin) during 2024-25.

We've been able to incorporate over 70% of all the ideas we received from community members.

Join our community forum

All our residents and ratepayers are invited to attend a community forum with Councillors and senior officers. You'll have a chance to hear more about our plans for the coming year, ask questions and discuss things that matter to you.

Time: 5pm, Wednesday 28 May.

Location: Municipal offices, 33 Highett Street, Mansfield. You can also join online via Zoom.

Registration is required. Email budget@mansfield.vic.gov.au or phone (03) 5775 8555 to register.

Ask a question

You can ask us a question on this page any time up until 5pm, Friday 30 May.

Questions will not be presented to Council for consideration. If you would like your feedback to be presented, please make a formal submission.

Make a submission

Anyone can provide written feedback on the proposed budget up until 5pm, Friday 30 May. To make a submission, head to the surveys tab on this page.

You can also write to us at budget@mansfield.vic.gov.au or by post to Private Bag 1000, Mansfield VIC 3724. If you make a submission in this way, please make sure it is clearly identified as a submission on the Proposed 2025-26 Budget. Submissions should be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Kirsten Alexander.

All written submissions are public documents and will form part of a report to Council. Council is not obliged to consider any submissions received after 5pm, Friday 30 May.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Our new draft Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-29 is now available to view and give feedback. We have made minor changes to the document after inviting feedback on the Revenue and Rating Plan 2021-25 earlier this year.

The Revenue and Rating Plan sets out how properties in our Shire are rated and how Council's rates revenue is shared between the various types of properties.

You can view the draft here. Please submit your feedback online by 21 May 2025. You can also email us at council@mansfield.vic.gov.au or phone (03) 5775 8555.

Council would like to hear about your priorities and ideas for consideration as part of the 2025-26 Budget and for Council’s 10 Year Capital Works Plan. To share your ideas, please complete our "submit an idea" survey by 31 January 2025.

In developing the budget, we look at what funds are needed to continue our operations and maintain or renew our assets and infrastructure. We also consider any requests from our community members that would require funding.

The bigger picture

The budget considers the strategic requirements of our long term plans, such as the 10 Year Capital Works Plan, Long Term Financial Plan and Council's Asset Plan. These plans are reviewed every year as part of the budget process.

Our Asset Plan was developed in 2023 in consultation with the community to keep our assets in a fit for purpose state that meets community expectations.

New budget initiatives or ideas are also reviewed against their alignment to the Council Plan 2021-2025. Shortly after each election, Councillors work together to develop a Council Plan setting out the main strategic objectives for their 4-year term. The current Council Plan runs from 2021 to 2025 and has 8 strategic objectives. Please take a look and see if your idea lines up with one of these objectives. This is due for review in June 2025.

You can access both plans in the document section of this page, as well as a one-page summary of the Council plan.

Next steps

All submitted ideas will be considered as we draft the new budget. The draft will be presented to Council for formal adoption as the Proposed 2025-26 Budget.

Once the Proposed 2025-26 Budget is adopted, it will be made available for feedback in a formal consultation process taking place in April and May 2025. Following a review of feedback, the final 2025-26 Budget will be presented to Council for endorsement on 24 June 2025.

While we're seeking feedback on Council's 2025-26 Budget, we're also interested in hearing your feedback on the related Revenue and Rating Plan.

Our Revenue and Rating Plan sets out how properties in our Shire are rated and how Council's rates revenue is shared between the various types of properties.

The plan is renewed every 4 years and is due for renewal in June 2025. Your feedback will be used in drafting the renewed plan.

You can view the Revenue and Rating Plan 2021-25 on this page. Please submit your feedback here by 31 January 2025.