Council would like your feedback on its draft 2023/24 Budget.
Our Annual Budget is developed to align with the objectives of our Council Plan, while considering the priorities of the community and the Council's financial situation and other external impacts. The budget details our financial position, capital works program and includes our fees and charges schedule.
Council has previously invited the community to rank their priorities and submit their project proposals for consideration in this and future budgets. Our draft 2023/24 Budget concentrates on recovery and prioritising projects and initiatives to secure and strengthen our future. Following the pandemic and 2022 flood event, we need to carefully balance community expectations and benefits with financial responsibilities to deliver a budget that reflects the current economic conditions.
All feedback received by Council by 4pm on Friday 19 May 2023 will be considered prior to adoption of the budget. Council will respond to those that have nominated to receive a written response, this will occur after Council adopts the Budget.
A final budget will be prepared for Council’s consideration at the Scheduled Council Meeting on Wednesday 28 June 2023.
Read our Draft Budget here
Further information about our Budget
What is our current financial situation?
Like all Councils across Victoria, Moira Shire is facing significant financial challenges.
These challenges have only been exacerbated after the recent flood event as we now reallocate resources to response and recovery.
This has been compounded by wet weather, shortage of project managers and shortage of contractors.
This means it will not be possible to deliver budgeted capital works and consolidation of carried forward works is going to take even longer.
We will likely require not just one year, but perhaps two to four financial years to get through the backlog and deliver capital works, so we need to focus needs on renewing existing assets not creating new ones.
What impacts our budget?
When drafting a budget Council must respond to the following challenges and external factors, while balancing the priorities of the community.
Rate capping
The ability for Moira Shire Council to fund our existing range, standard and location of services will be more difficult over coming years as rate capping progressively impacts on Council’s financial resources.
The competition for grant funding is expected to increase significantly as rate capping forces Councils to seek alternative funding options to maintain existing infrastructure and invest in new programs and services.
Large geographical area
Compared with other Victorian Councils, Moira Shire covers a large geographic area with multiple service locations and a relatively small, dispersed and ageing population. This combination means Moira Shire has relatively higher costs to deliver the equivalent range and standard of Council services.
Natural disasters
Events such as severe storm damage, floods and bushfires require the mobilisation and re-direction of resources within Council to respond to these events in supporting our community and liaising with state government and key emergency service providers.
Council will prioritise supporting our region to recover from the recent floods, including emergency centres, clean-up, roads, drainage and other essential services.
Cost pressures
External factors such as the COVID pandemic and the recent floods have caused shortages in the supply of materials and labour. This is resulting in contract costs escalating particularly for capital and increasing project risk exposure, forcing council to reassess project scopes, delivery timeframes and funding sources.
Asset maintenance
Many of Moira Shire’s assets are in the latter stage of their useful life and community use is declining, but community service standards along with public use, safety and construction standards are increasing. Moira Shire has moved to fully funding renewals to help offset this gap, however, this will limit the amount of discretionary funding for new capital works.
How every $100 will be spent
Comparison data
The below graphs show how Moira compared to other Councils in 2021/22.
This comparison aims to show that Rural and Regional Councils face different operational challenges and infrastructure needs than those of Metro and Interface Councils. It highlights how differences in population density and geographic area can influence a Council’s ability to generate sufficient revenue to meet those operational challenges and infrastructure needs and how that can lead to differences in rate notices between Councils.
Rates and Charges
Roads
How to get involved
Community consultation on the draft Budget closed at 4pm on Friday 19 May.
While Council considers the feedback and projects submitted and works to finalise the Budget, the community can also try our budget simulator tool and attempt to balance the 2023/2024 Council Budget.
This educational tool allows you to choose what you want to prioritise and allocate the funding accordingly. In this 5 minute simulator you can review Council’s many services and where you want to increase or decrease spend see the consequences of your choices in real time.
Access the Budget Simulator tool