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What affected our 2023–24 Budget

External influences

Victorian Government

The Victorian Government influence on our budget includes: 

  • the Victorian Government’s rate cap increase of 3.5%
  • the Victorian Government waste levy is expected to increase by 2.68% or $3.37 per tonne from $125.90 to $129.27 per tonne in 2023–24. The waste levy changes are part of the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria package. This is a 10-year action plan to encourage more recycling and reduce waste going to landfill
  • the Victorian Government announced changes to the Workers Compensation system due to the scheme’s financial losses. As a result, the Victorian Government has increased average premiums from 1.27% of remuneration to 1.80% of remuneration, resulting in an average 42% increase in all Victorian Workers Compensation premiums
  • the Fire Services Property Levy that we collect for the Victorian Government
  • ongoing cost shifting. This happens when a local government provides a service to the community on behalf of the Victorian or Australian Government. Over time, the cost for providing the service goes up, but the funding a local government receives doesn’t match it.

Grant funding

We will receive $3.24 million for capital works grant funding from the Australian Government. 

This includes: 

  • $2.05 million for Walmer Street Bridge upgrades
  • $593,811 for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program. This program will deliver priority road and community infrastructure projects
  • $593,811 for Roads to Recovery Program funding covering roads pavement renewal works.

Internal influences

Internal influences on our budget include projects that aren’t finished or haven’t started yet. This can be because of planning issues, weather delays or a longer consultation with the community. 

Employee costs are another internal influence. These are mostly driven by Council’s Enterprise Agreement. We have included an annual increase of 3% for all costs related to employees, such as wages, Work Cover and superannuation. In 2023–24 the compulsory Superannuation Guarantee Scheme (SGC) will also increase from 10.50% to 11.00%.

Waste collection costs will also increase in 2023–24 by roughly 5.6%. This is linked directly to the cost of providing the waste services.