It looks like business is booming the beautiful town of Daylesford, but the local council is grappling with a budget hit by inflation and cost-of-living pressures — and it's a situation that's said to be playing out across the state.
Hepburn Shire Council 's draft 2024-25 budget reveals a likely $2 million deficit, after $5.5 million in new loans and $1.5 million in operational cuts.
The Municipal Association of Victoria says Hepburn Shire is not alone in its financial troubles, with serious concerns for the long-term viability of a number of rural councils. This is the backdrop to the controversial draft 2024-25 budget, which councillors voted to release for community submissions after a heated debate during a special meeting on Tuesday.
Applying to the Essential Services Commission for a variation to the rate cap and cutting services are the solutions currently on the table. He said the organisation was also making an submission into the federal government inquiry into local government sustainability."When they began for councils in the 70s, we got about one per cent of federal taxation.
Hepburn Shire Council Budget Municipal Association Of Victoria Brian Hood Essential Services Commission Rate Cap David Clark
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