Agenda item

Moved: Cr Child
Seconded: Cr Mcilwain

That Council having advertised the proposed Annual Budget 2025-2026 and having considered all submissions received in respect of such Budget resolves: 

1.         To adopt as presented the Budget 2025-2026 (Attachments 1 and 2) and be adopted for the purposes of sections 91, 93 and 94 of the Local Government Act 2020.

2.         To authorise the Chief Executive Officer to submit a copy of the adopted Budget to the Minister for Local Government. 

3.         The amount of rates and charges intended to be raised are an amount of $187,635,562 million (or such greater amount as is lawfully levied as a consequence of this recommendation being adopted) be declared as the amount which Council intends to raise by general rates and waste service charges (described later in this recommendation). The amount declared is calculated as follows: 

General Rates                        $151,849,543 

Waste Service Charges        $35,786,019 

4.         That general rates be declared in respect of the 2025-2026 Financial Year. declaration and levy of rates and charges for the 2025-2026 financial year contained within the 2025-2026 Budget be adopted for the purposes of section 94 of the Local Government Act 2020. 

5.         That it be further declared that the general rates be raised by the application of differential rates. 

6.         That a differential rate be respectively declared for rateable land having the respective characteristics specified below, which characteristics will form the criteria for each differential rate so declared. 

(a)      Residential Land  

Any land which does not have the characteristics of Vacant Substandard land, Farm Land, Commercial Land or Industrial Land.  

(b)      Vacant Sub Standard Land 

Any land which is vacant land on which by reason of locality or zoning under the relevant Planning Scheme, no building can be erected except in accordance with an adopted restructure plan. 

(c)       Farm Land 

Any land which is 'farm land' within the meaning of section 2(1) of the Valuation of Land Act 1960. 

(d)      Commercial or Industrial Land

Any land which is used or adapted to be used primarily for commercial or industrial purposes. 

7.         That the quantum of rates payable in respect of each rateable land will be determined by multiplying the Capital Improved Value of such land (categorised by the characteristics described in point 6 above) by the relevant rates indicated in the following table:

(a)      Residential Land - 0.0025283 (or 0.25283 cents in the dollar of Capital Improved Value) 

(b)      Vacant Sub-Standard Land - 0.0025283 (or 0.25283 cents in the dollar of Capital Improved Value) 

(c)       Farm Land - 0.0017698 (or 0.17698 cents in the dollar of Capital Improved Value) 

(d)      Commercial or Industrial - 0.0037925 (or 0.37925 cents in the dollar of Capital Improved Value) 

8.         That it be recorded that Council considers that each differential rate will contribute to the equitable and efficient carrying out of Council functions, and that the: 

(a)      respective objectives, uses and levels of each differential rate be those specified in section 4.1.1 of the Budget document (Attachment 1). 

(b)      respective types or classes of land which are subject to each differential rate be those defined in part (n) above. 

9.         That it be confirmed that no amount is fixed as the minimum amount payable by way of general rate in respect of each rateable land within the municipal district. 

10.      That in accordance with section 4(4) of the Cultural and Recreational Lands Act 1963, the amount of rates payable in respect of each of the rateable lands to which that Act applies be determined by multiplying the Capital Improved Value of that rateable land by 0.0015170 (or 0.15170 cents in the dollar of Capital Improved Value). 

Waste Services Charge 

11.      That waste service charges be declared in respect of the 2025-2026 Financial Year. 

12.      That the waste service charges be declared on a full cost recovery model in line with Council’s Resource Recovery and Waste Services Policy. 

13.      The amount of the waste service charges is dependent upon the use of a property, and the bins chosen or required on that property reflective of Council’s waste policy. Waste Service charges are calculated as follows;

(a)      A minimum base charge: 

                          i.             Residential         $128 

                         ii.             Non-Residential$48 

(b)      The food and garden organics (FOGO), recycling, general garbage bin. 

                          i.             FOGO 80 litre – Residential               $142  

                         ii.             FOGO 120 litre – Residential             $157  

                        iii.             FOGO 240 litre – Residential             $201  

                       iv.             FOGO 80 litre – Non Residential       $142  

                         v.             FOGO 120 litre – Non Residential     $157  

                       vi.             FOGO 240 litre – Non Residential     $201  

                      vii.             Recycling 80 litre – Residential          $51  

                     viii.             Recycling 120 litre – Residential        $55  

                       ix.             Recycling 240 litre – Residential        $69  

                         x.             Recycling 80 litre – Non Residential  $51  

                       xi.             Recycling 120 litre – Non Residential$55  

                      xii.             Recycling 240 litre – Non Residential$69  

                     xiii.             Garbage 80 litre – Residential            $126  

                     xiv.             Garbage 120 litre – Residential          $155  

                      xv.             Garbage 240 litre – Residential          $242  

                     xvi.             Garbage 80 litre – Non Residential   $126  

                    xvii.             Garbage 120 litre – Non Residential$155  

                  xviii.             Garbage 240 litre – Non Residential$242  

Payment 

14.      That in accordance with Section 167 of the Local Government Act 1989, Council determines that rates and charges may be paid by: 

(a)      Four equal quarterly instalments due on: 

                          i.             30 September 2025 

                         ii.             30 November 2025 

                        iii.             28 February 2026 

                       iv.             31 May 2026 

(b)      Where a ratepayer does not meet the first instalment by 30 September 2025, the total outstanding amount is due to be paid in full by 15 February 2026. 

(c)       Ratepayers also have the option of flexible payment plans which can be accessed during the year.

15.      That the Manager Financial Services be authorised to levy and recover the general rates and annual service charge in accordance with the Local Government Act 1989 and the Local Government Act 2020. 

16.      To endorses the submissions to the 2025-2026 Budget received at the Hearing of Submissions Committee meeting on 6 May 2025 and authorise the Manager Financial Services to write to all those who have made a submission, providing them with the officer response and thanking them for their input.

17.      That pursuant to section 172(1) of the Local Government Act 1989, Council records that it will require the payment of interest on any amounts of rates and charges which have not been paid by the date specified under section 167 of the said Act for their payment.

The motion was Carried.