Proposed Budget 2022-23 & Revised Revenue & Rating Plan

Mansfield Shire Council adopted the 2022/23 Budget and Revised Revenue & Rating Plan 2021-2025 at its Ordinary Council Meeting held Tuesday 28 June 2022. 

On Wednesday 17 May 2022, Council Adopted the Mansfield Planning Strategy. 

Community members are invited to consider the Proposed Budget 2022-23 and Council's revised Revenue & Rating Plan.  

The budget outlines what Council will deliver over the next 12 months including new initiatives and core services and how they will be funded.

The Revenue and Rating Plan sets out the system of rates and charges for the purposes of allocating the required funding across the municipality. It includes why Council has rate differentials in place for different property categories.

You can view the Proposed Budget 2022-23 and the Revenue & Rating Plan on the right hand side of this page under Budget Documents. If you require a physical copy of the documents, please contact Council by phone on 03 5775 8555 to request that a print copy be made available for collection. 

Submissions on each document will be accepted up to 5:00 pm on Thursday 26 May 2022.

Highlights of the Proposed Budget 2022-23 

The 2022-23 budget proposes a 1.75% rate increase, in line with the State Government Rate Cap with a total operating expenditure of almost $24 million and a capital works program of close to $11 million. 

The key features of the Proposed Budget 2022-23 are:

• Construction of a new 100 vehicle carpark in High Street at a cost of $600,000 on the land Council recently purchased. Council proposes to borrow funds for this project.
• $1.45 million to resolve long standing drainage issues, with $870,000 on the Apollo - High Street corner. 
• Continuation of the Heavy Vehicle Alternate Route completing Stage 2 ($2.08 million).
• Open space and streetscape improvements ($412,000).
• Path and cycleways ($421,000) including construction a new footpath on Malcolm Street between Kidston Pde and Ultimo Street.
• Station Precinct Master Plan – New Heritage Museum Building ($1.28 million).

New Initiatives

In addition to the planned delivery of services, Council will invest $242,000 in new service initiatives to support our growing community as follows: 

• Another year of the Outlying Communities Infrastructure Fund Grant, with $50,000 providing opportunities for our outlying community groups to apply for funds to improve community infrastructure. 
• Two new permanent full time positions in field services - 1 in Parks & Gardens and another in our Road Maintenance Team. Population growth and new subdivisions mean more open spaces and roads to maintain.
• $10,000 for Environment Services - $5,000 for additional tree planting across the Shire and $5,000 for community education programs 
• Flood Mapping for the Mansfield Township. Project cost $115,000 ($90,000 externally funded, $25,000 Council funded).
• A permanent part time position for planning and advocacy in aged care, youth services and early years 
• Implementation of the Onsite Wastewater Management Plan.

Waste Charge 2022-23

The proposed budget an increase to the waste charge for households for 2022-23.

Councils charge fees to recover the cost of the waste service provided to residents. The average ratepayer currently pays about $330 and will pay approximately $495. 

The proposed cost is comparable to waste service charges at neighbouring councils, which are in excess of $500 per year. 

Over the past few years the cost of waste services has been increasing, particularly landfill and EPA costs. Landfill costs increase each year well above CPI and the EPA levy went up 60% between 2020 and 2021. It is expected to increase again next financial year. In addition, Council has not recovered enough over the last three years to cover the true cost of delivering waste services and the waste reserve is in deficit.

All of this together with requiring additional staffing at the Resource Recovery Centre to meet the needs of our growing community means that Council is proposing to increase the waste charge next financial year.

Revised Revenue & Rating Plan 

The Revenue & Rating Plan is a four year plan developed during the first year of the current Council's term. The Plan establishes the revenue raising framework within which Council proposes to operate. Strategies outlined in the Plan will feed into the Budget and long term financial planning documents, as well as other strategic planning documents under Council’s strategic planning framework. Each year, Council is required to develop a four-year budget that outlines the expected income and expenditure required to deliver services and infrastructure over that period.

The Plan outlines Council’s primary revenue streams including:

Rates and Charges

1. General rates
2. Rating differentials
3. Valuation basis
4. Municipal charge
5. Service charges
6. Special charge schemes
7. Financial hardship

Other Revenue

1. User fees and charges
2. Statutory fees
3. Grants
4. Contributions
5. Investment income

How You Can Be Involved

Community Forums

Mansfield Shire residents and ratepayers are invited to attend community budget information sessions to be facilitated by Councillors and senior officers regarding the Proposed Budget 2022-23 and revised Revenue & Rating Plan.

Ask a Question

You can ask a question about the Proposed Budget and revised Revenue & Rating Plan at the bottom of this page. Council will endeavour to answer questions each day during the working week.

The opportunity to ask a question will close at 5:00pm on 26 May 2022.

*Note that questions are not "submissions" and will not be presented to Council for consideration.

Submissions

Ratepayers and members of the community are welcomed to make a submission to the Proposed Budget 2022-23 and/or revised Revenue & Rating Plan.

Submissions can be made via the Make a Submission tab at the bottom of this page. Alternatively, submissions can be delivered by either of the following methods:

• Email: budget@mansfield.vic.gov.au
• Post: Private Bag 1000, Mansfield VIC 3724

Submissions delivered by email or post must be clearly identified as such and made in writing, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Kaylene Conrick. 

All written submissions are public documents and will form part of a public report to Council. A meeting of a Special Committee of Council formed to hear submissions will be held on Tuesday 7 June 2022. All Councillors are on the Special Committee. All submitters have a right to speak to their submission (ie. make a verbal deputation).

If you wish to speak to your submission, or nominate someone else to do this on your behalf, you must request this in writing as part of your submission.

All submissions must be received by Council no later than 5:00pm Thursday 26 May 2022.  Council is not obliged to consider any submissions received after this time.

What Happens Next?

The opportunity to ask a question or make a submission will close at 5:00pm on 26 May 2022. 

A Special Committee of Council will consider all submissions at a meeting scheduled for 7 June 2022. At this meeting community members who requested the opportunity to speak to their submission will be heard.

Council will deliver and adopt the final Budget 2022-23 and Revenue & Rating Plan at the Council Meeting scheduled for 28 June 2022.