More than 10 new projects have been included to reflect submissions and projects pitched by our community.
"This year Council took a proactive approach to its budget development - creating a series of opportunity for our community to have its say and pitch us project ideas," Mayor Cr Chris Raeburn said.
"It's paid off and we're excited to release our 2021/22 Budget with new projects that include street tree planting, upgrades to sporting facilities, street activation workshops and project implementation and more."
Our 2021/22 Draft Budget provides for an operating expenditure of $30.3 million to fund services.
This includes $7.6 million to roads, drains, bridges, and footpaths, $213,000 to sustainability initiatives, $1.2 million to parks and reserves, $345,000 to libraries and arts, 197,000 to youth services and $984,000 to planning.
"Operating expenditure is also used to fund important services such as maternal and child health, swimming pools and emergency management.
This year's Draft Budget provides $21.57 million in new capital works that includes $3.855 million in roads, $1.4 million for bridges and culverts, $3.9 million for pedestrian bridges and footpaths, including the Nagambie Foreshore Walk, $2.4 million for recreation, leisure and community facilities and $331,000 for parks, open spaces and streetscapes.
"This includes some fantastic projects like an upgrade to the Nagambie-Locksley Rd Bridge, a new Council website, a splash park in Nagambie, funding for the Strathbogie Recreation Reserve Pavilion, footpath works in Avenel and Violet Town and significant funding contributions towards the Rockies Pedestrian Footbridge in Euroa," he said.
This year's 2021/22 Budget includes a 1.5 per cent increase in the average rate per property which is in line with the Victorian Government's Fair Go Rates legislation.
Waste Charges will also increase by two per cent to fund ongoing collection and disposal commitments, along with the detailed design, costings and rehabilitation of the Violet Town landfill.
Council is now keen to hear from the community on how it can improve its Budget engagement process.
"We're working hard to improve our communications and engagement," Cr Raeburn said.
"This year we made some changes to the budget process, which included asking the community to prioritise services and infrastructure to help us develop the Draft Budget and our pitch my project initiative where the community could pitch its awesome ideas."
"We encourage the community to visit www.share.strathbogie.vic.gov.au to share your ideas."
