Budget 2026/27

Each year Council prepares a budget which details income expected from various sources such as government grants, fees and charges and property rates, and the funds available to deliver services, key actions from the Council Plan, and to undertake capital works projects as well as maintain and renew essential infrastructure and assets.

Council adopted the 2026/27 Budget at its 30 June 2026 Council meeting.

In developing the budget, Council undertook extensive community consultation, with community members given the opportunity to provide input into what they'd like to see in the draft budget through our pre-budget survey and again when the draft budget was placed on public exhibition during May 2026.

The budget documents can be viewed or downloaded from the side panel on the right, or below if viewing via a mobile device.

Primary Budget Documents

• 2026/27 Budget - Complete budget including financial statements, capital works program, and service budgets
• Ten-Year Financial Plan - Long-term financial sustainability planning

Supporting Documents

• Operating Income and Expense  - All Service Plans 2026/27 including detailed breakdown of each service area budget

Budget Highlights 2026/27

Capital Works Program: $13.046 million

• $3.26M for road maintenance and upgrades
• $1.65M for caravan park upgrades as part of the Caravan Park Masterplan
• $350,000 for drainage renewal and upgrade
• $350,000 additional funding for the Barkly Park Pavilion upgrade, bringing the total project to $1.4 million
• $327,000 for lighting upgrades at the Chiltern Recreation Reserve
• $250,000 for bridge renewal
• $164,000 for footpaths and cycleways, including a new footpath from Isaacs Ave to Railway Ave in Yackandandah
• $60,000 for the Old Chiltern library building
• $60,000 for a maternal health facility upgrade in Rutherglen
• $50,000 for tennis court upgrades at Tangambalanga
• $20,000 for cricket nets and oval irrigation at Kiewa

Community Consultation

Pre-Budget Survey

Council invited community members to share their priorities ahead of the budget through our pre-budget community survey. This input helped shape the decisions made in the 2026/27 budget.

Draft Budget Exhibition (May–June 2026)

Following Council's endorsement of the draft budget at the May 2026 meeting, the budget was placed on public exhibition for 28 days for community feedback. Submissions received were considered by Council before adopting the final budget.