Council adopts 2025-2035 Financial Plan

The 2025-2035 Financial Plan is a 10-year forecast of Council’s finances that guides how the community’s needs and aspirations in the Council Plan and Community Vision will be resourced. The document is a key tool in responsible financial management, with long-term financial planning enabling Council to anticipate future challenges, allocate resources effectively and make informed decisions that support both current and future community needs.

The document was adopted following community consultation on the Draft 2025-2035 Financial Plan in August and September this year, which Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, said was an important step in the planning process.

“The Financial Plan is our 10-year, long-term roadmap for rates, debt, reserves and investments. It ensures sustainability, while funding services and infrastructure, and sets out how Council will manage these things while responding to challenges such as inflation, rate capping and changing community needs,” he said.

“Community feedback is an extremely important part in developing the final document as it ensures the needs and aspirations of our region are recognised and accounted for.”

The plan includes funding for key aspirational projects including the Shepparton Sports and Events Centre, for which Council continues to advocate for funding. The document also identifies risks and challenges that may impact the achievement of these goals and identifies key strategic actions to ensure Council remains financially sustainable.

Cr Sali said the plan ensures the organisation is viable, however it outlines the need to remain diligent given identified risks and pressures.

“These everyday financial pressures include revenue constraints, inflation, natural disasters and municipal growth,” he said.

“To combat this, we need to ensure we continue to remain viable by prioritising investment in our existing assets, achieving operational savings, ensuring service growth is the right size for our community, and ensuring we have the ability to respond to emerging risks and pressures.

“The 2025-2035 Financial Plan is a live document, and we will continue to review, update and use it to inform decision making over the next decade.”