Practical and responsible - Council adopts 2025-26 Budget
Published on 26 June 2025
A commitment to completing the priorities that matter to Loddon Shire residents while continuing to be financially responsible are the key themes of the 2025-26 Loddon Shire Council Budget.
Council adopted the Budget and Fees and Charges Schedule, along with the Revenue and Rating Plan, at its meeting on Friday, 20 June 2025.
Highlights of the Budget include:
- $8.61 million capital works program, including $4.79 million targeted to renew and improve our local road network, nearly $840,000 in upgrades to recreation, leisure and community facilities, and over $375,000 invested into our footpath network helping to keep our communities vibrant and well connected.
- As well as the $4.79 million capital works investment into our road network, Council is also tipping $7.54 million into road maintenance, which means in 2025-26 Council will invest $12.33 million into the assets that our community say are most important to them. In comparison, Council will collect $9.81 million in rates in 2025-26.
- $3.8 million obtained in external grants to help fund capital works delivery, with strong project management capability being maintained to drive outcomes.
- $750,000 for community planning, supporting grassroots ideas and projects developed by the community, for the community.
- Ongoing support for early years services and community wellbeing programs, particularly for our youngest residents.
- A strong cash position, projected to be $20.5 million at 30 June 2026 and no debt on the balance sheet. However, the underlying operating result will be a forecast deficit of $7.13 million this year. That gap is driven by inflationary cost increases, constrained revenue growth, and significant demands associated with flood recovery and capital delivery.
- Increased investment in information technology and cyber security, ensuring Council systems are reliable, protected, and fit for purpose.
- Focused internal reviews of service delivery and investigation of new technologies to enhance asset management, supporting growth in evidence-based planning and investment.
- Ongoing development of shared service models and collaborative arrangements to reduce duplication and drive efficiencies.
- Continued work to understand the long-term renewal demands of Council’s significant infrastructure portfolio, much of which is ageing and resource-intensive.
Loddon Shire Mayor Dan Straub said the Budget balanced completing important projects while also being financially responsible.
“This Budget focuses on completing the priorities our community told us matter, including accessible local services, well-maintained infrastructure, support for local initiatives, and continued recovery from the October 2022 floods,” Cr Straub said.
“These outcomes reflect our community values. We’ve consistently heard that residents want good services close to home, well-kept roads, strong connections between towns, and a Council that uses public money wisely.
“This Budget honours those values. But we also know that the path forward requires practicality.
“Council continues to be aware of underlying financial pressures that will require careful navigation in the years ahead – cost escalations, an ageing asset base, and constrained income growth are part of the picture.
“Nonetheless, this Budget balances our aspirations with our responsibilities, and it reflects a Council committed to service, good governance, and local priorities.”
The adoption of the Budget followed a public feedback period, during which one submission was received, but the Budget also contains some other changes from the draft:
Since the Draft Fees and Charges Schedule was placed on public display, the State Government has issued a pricing update to fee units (from $16.33 to $16.81) for mandated statutory fees. All required changes to these fees have been amended in the Schedule encompassing statutory fees related to public health, planning, building and freedom of information.