Horsham Rural City Council (HRCC) adopted its 2024-2025 at the July 22 Council meeting. This concluded a six-month budget process that commenced in January and included the adoption of Council's Annual Action Plan in April 2024, following community engagement on the draft plan.
The Annual Action Plan details services and initiatives to be undertaken during the 2024-2025 financial year to deliver against the Council Plan and forms the basis of the budget that was adopted in July.
Chief Executive Officer Sunil Bhalla said that throughout this period, staff and Councillors had many briefing sessions to work through the development of the Annual Action Plan and the final budget.
"The financial pressures placed on all Council budgets in the current rate capped environment are significant and the focus was at all times to present Council with a sound, fiscally responsible budget for operational activities and capital projects," he said.
"Despite the committed efforts of staff, in particular, our diligent finance team (also dealing with a switch to a new financial management system), it became clear in mid-June that a final budget could not be presented to Council for adoption before the 30 June target. This was achieved three weeks later at the July meeting."
Councils are required under the Local Government Act to adopt their budgets by June 30 and to submit an annual report by September 30 each year.
Mr Bhalla also said that the decision to request a formal extension to the Local Government Minister Melissa Horne on June 19th was not taken lightly, given that it meant a breach of the Local Government Act, and followed legal advice.
"During the lead up to June 30, Councillors were briefed in detail on progress and issues with the budget including the decision to delay the presentation and adoption of the final budget," he said.
"It was a difficult decision to delay the adoption of the budget, but our highest priority was to deliver the right budget for our community to deliver the services and facilities needed. Part of this decision was also about ensuring that our councillors had sufficient time to fully consider the budget prior to finally adopting it".
It is important our community understands that the delay in adoption of the budget did not impact Council operations and the delivery of important community services such as waste collection, roadworks and maternal and child health, that continued as usual.
