¶ COLLIE Shire Council endorsed the shire’s 2025/26 draft budget proposing a 4.5 percent rates increase at its June meeting.
As reported by the Bulletin in April, the shire’s long-term financial plan projects rate rises of 4.5 percent for the 2025/26 financial year through to 2028/29.
Thereafter, it projects rises of 3.5 percent for 2030/31 through to 2033/24.
The projected rises are a targeted revenue increase compared to the previous year, used as a guide to help determine spending, however are not locked in.
Shire president Ian Miffling told council it is not the final budget.
“Draft is the operative word,” Cr Miffling said.
“I emphasise this is a draft, so it will come through in a polished format for a formal adoption.”
The draft budget outlines a surplus of $19,805 for 2025/26, which is effectively a deficit of $74,935 in light of a forecast opening surplus of $94,740.
It is proposed $8,049,428 be raised from general property rates.
The budget forecasts the shire will employ 70.3 full-time equivalent staff at the end of 2025/26, up from 69.02, at a total cost of $7,517,828, compared to $6,915,000 in 2024/25.
A total of $2,783,890 is also projected to be spent in 2025/26 on the shire’s capital works program.
Council will allocate $1,680,000 from the shire’s reserves to fund this expenditure, with the balance to be sourced from external grants and contributions, along with proceeds from the sale of assets or municipal funds.
The final 2025/26 budget is scheduled to be presented to council and adopted at its next meeting on July 8.