Council retains all services and prepares for growth in 2023-2024 Annual Business Plan and Budget

Published 26th July 2023

Adelaide Plains Council adopted its 2023/2024 Annual Business Plan (ABP) and Budget at the Council meeting held on 24 July 2023.

Councils are not immune to the rising costs faced by the community, and Adelaide Plains Council has diligently taken all influencing factors into account in preparation of the 2023/2024 ABP and Budget. Revisions were made following public consultation to reduce the proposed average rate increase from 7% to 5%, as Council takes into consideration the impact the rising cost of living has on its community. The adopted ABP and Budget allows Council to retain existing services for the community during tough economic times, and start work in earnest for current and future growth.

Key elements of the Budget include:

$3.523 million in asset renewals
- Including 32km of road resheeting and 9.5km of road resealing
$0.463 million in new or upgraded assets
- Including streetscaping in Dublin, Mallala and Two Wells, and stormwater management
$18.082 million in operating expenses
- Operating projects and day-to-day operating expenditure such as waste management, general road maintenance, playgrounds, community safety, coastal conservation, and dog and cat management
5% average rate increase with growth of 2.16% (from additional rateable properties)
$12.227 million general rates income
$2.585 million estimated income from operating grants, subsidies and contributions.

Scheduled projects to look forward to include:

Annual roads resheeting and resealing program
Two Wells Main Street streetscape upgrades, including pedestrian refuges/crossings
New Lewiston Dog Park shelters
Dublin Oval toilet renewal
Develop Parham Foreshore Master Plan

Rates are based on a property’s value and land use category, with the adopted increase calculated in respect to the current economic climate and operating requirements for the financial year. 5% is the average increase across all property types, and does not necessarily mean that every property in the region will see the same increase. This increase is well below the current CPI for March 2023 (of 7.9%) and demonstrates Council's commitment to keep rates affordable by driving efficiencies within Council operations against rising cost pressures.

The plans were developed in consultation with Council Members, the Audit Committee, Infrastructure and Environment Committee, management and the community in the context of Council’s Strategic Plan 2021-2024 and Infrastructure and Asset Management Plans.

“Inflation, CPI, cost of living, access to and rising cost of materials, price of fuel; it all compounds making the preparation of this year’s budget all the more difficult. That said, the elected body and management has diligently taken all influencing factors into account in preparation of the 2023/2024 ABP and Budget” said Council’s Chief Executive Officer, James Miller.

Please consider your rates as your contribution to how our communities prosper and grow. Every day in one way or another, we all use Council infrastructure and facilities.

Mayor Wasley

26 July 2023