General News
6 May, 2025
Feedback opens on budget
The community are encouraged to share their thoughts on council’s proposed financial plans.
The Central Goldfield Shire’s Draft Budget 2025-2026 and Draft Revenue and Rating Plan 2025-2029 are available for public feedback, following last week’s council meeting.
Central Goldfields Shire mayor, Grace La Vella, said rising costs impacts everyone — including the council.
“It’s continuing to get more and more challenging for small rural councils to deliver essential services, invest in infrastructure whilst operating within our means and deliver maximum value to our community,” she said.
Councillor Gerard Murphy emphasised the budget has been developed within state government’s three percent rate cap.
“We’re trying to be fiscally responsible to try and make it work within the three percent [rate cap] for our community and not ask for more money from the State Government like some others are,” he said.
The rate cap on council’s was implemented to ease the cost of living pressures on Victorians while allowing councils to provide their services, according to State Government.
The draft budget proposes a $1.415 million surplus for 2025-2026. This can be compared to an audited deficit for the year in 2023-2024 of $5 million and a forecast surplus for 2024-2025 of $723,000.
Funding has been allocated, given, or planned to go to a number of projects including the Maryborough Outdoor Pool, Deledio Recreation Reserve Pavilion, and Princes Park Grandstand.
Cr La Vella said the draft budget is financially responsible while still funding important community projects.
“It includes a $10.58 million capital works program that includes $4.26 million in newly committed projects and $6.32 in carry forward projects,” she said.
Included in the capital works is delivery of the annual road resealing and asphalting program, completion of the TAC Road Safety Program delivered over two years, and public conveniences such as automatic toilet locks and sensors on barbecues.
Cr Murphy also took the opportunity to discuss the Fire Services Property Levy’s controversial replacement — the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund.
“It is important to know that the Fire Service Property Levy is in the rate notices. This is a State Government tax. Revenue goes directly to the State Government after Central Goldfields Shire collects it — this has been for some time,” he said.
However, he warned residents to be prepared in coming years.
“This is on our rates notice, we are collecting money for the State Government, we don’t put the money into our ratepayers, our income, it goes out. And it’s really important to know, if someone doesn’t pay their rates, we still have to pay this State Government tax. So if 30 or 40 people don’t pay their rates we still have to pay it,” he said.
The documents are available for the community to view at www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/budget2025 with feedback invited until 5 pm Thursday, May 22.