2026-27 Budget

We're now inviting feedback on the Proposed 2026-27 Budget. Council has carefully considered the community feedback received through the early budget engagement process, receiving 45 submissions which have influenced the draft budget. The final budget will be put to Council for adoption on 30 June.

You can view the proposed budget on this page. You can also phone us on (03) 5775 8555 to request a print copy for collection.

Budget highlights

Despite the Fair Go Rates System rate cap being set at 2.75% and inflation sitting at an elevated rate of 3.8% in early 2026, we have managed to identify savings and have proposed a lower-than-cap rate increase of 2.65%.

We've been able to incorporate over 80% of all the ideas we received from community members including:

• Creation of a new BBQ area and shelter in Macs Cove.
• Planning and design for a new bike pump track for Jamieson.
• Inclusion of a splash play area in the new Station Precinct All-abilities Playground.
• Upgrade of the learner’s pool to enable increased community access for swimming lessons, and a new splash play area at the Mansfield Aquatic Centre.
• Improvements to roads and paths, including sealing Walshes Road in collaboration with DEECA.
• Engaging with community over financial contributions for sealing of Hearns Rd and Buttercup Rd.
• Improved facilities at College Park.
• New exercise equipment and other improvements at the Bonnie Doon Community Centre, in collaboration with the Bonnie Doon Community Asset Committee.
• Establishing new events, with an expanded Winter festival and moonlight cinema planned.

It is set to be a big year for expenditure on grant funded projects in Mansfield Shire with over $13.6m in external funding to be spent across various projects. This is a great outcome from the sustained advocacy Council carries out on behalf of the community. Headlining the grant funded project expenditure this financial year are:

• Station Precinct works including refurbishment of the Goods Shed, completion of the Heritage Museum, Changing Places facility and all-abilities playground, improvements to the Mullum Wetlands, carparks and landscaping and creation of the Taungurung Art Trail.
• Lords Reserve ‘Around the Grounds’ package completion, including new Pavillion and upgrade of existing clubrooms to provide much-improved facilities for user groups.
• Mansfield Aquatic Centre upgrade project, with a new roof to the learner’s pool, accessibility and changeroom upgrades and new splashplay area.
• Mansfield Sporting Complex home and away changeroom upgrades for all users of this important sporting and recreational space.

We are delighted to announce the introduction of a seven-day operating week at the Mansfield Resource Recovery Centre (MRRC) in 2026 to provide better flexibility for our community. This change has been funded through identifying savings and increasing efficiencies. It will not incur any extra cost to ratepayers or residents through waste fees or charges.

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: 17:00 Monday 25 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, Monday 1 June.

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, Monday 1 June. 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 2026-27 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, Monday 1 June.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit ideas and priorities for Council’s 2026–27 Budget and 10 Year Capital Works Plan. We appreciate the thoughtful feedback and community input received.

The ideas survey is now closed. All submissions will be carefully considered as Council prepares the draft 2026–27 Budget, alongside our long-term plans and strategic objectives.

Next steps

The Proposed 2026–27 Budget will be available for public inspection from 17 April to 15 May 2026. During this period, the community will have the opportunity to review the proposed budget and provide formal feedback.

Following consultation, the final 2026–27 Budget will be presented to Council for endorsement on 30 June 2026.

Council would like to hear about your priorities and ideas for consideration as part of the 2026-27 Budget and for Council’s 10 Year Capital Works Plan. To share your ideas, please complete our "submit an idea" survey by 30 January 2026.

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 2025 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 2025-2029. 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 2025 to 2029 and has 10 strategic objectives. Please take a look and see if your idea lines up with one of these objectives.

You can access these plans in the document section of this page.

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 2026-27 Budget.

Once the Proposed 2026-27 Budget is adopted, it will be made available for feedback in a formal consultation process taking place in April and May 2026. Following a review of feedback, the final 2026-27 Budget will be presented to Council for endorsement on 30 June 2026.