Adelaide Plains Council adopts 2024 - 2025 budget

The 2024/2025 Annual Business Plan and Budget was adopted at Adelaide Plains Council’s 5 August Special Council Meeting.

The budget focuses on achieving a balance between meeting the needs of a rapidly growing population and the increased costs faced by Council and ratepayers due to costs of living and inflation.

Council’s total operating revenue for the financial year will be $18.617 million, with $14.946 million from rates and $3.671 million from other sources, including grants.

Council adopted an equal average general rates increase of 5.5% to all land use categories, which equates to an average general rates increase of 5.07% across the council, inclusive of 3.74% growth in number of rateable properties.

This year the Council Members have chosen an austere approach to the budget. The comparatively low increase in rates and heavy reduction to employee costs does have a flow on effect, namely impacts to service levels, some critical, and response times may be noticeable to the general public.

Budgeted expenditure of $18.589 million focuses on operating expenses and $4.815 million on capital works that support the region’s enviable lifestyle, emerging economy and remarkable landscapes.

Key elements of the 2024/2025 capital works program include:

• $4.245 million in asset renewals, covering 39km of road re-sheeting and 13km of road resealing, including roads in Korunye and Dublin.
• $570,000 in new or upgraded assets.

New projects to look forward to include; a local business support program and community partnership funding, in addition to continued work towards the Two Wells Town Centre.

Following community feedback, changes were made to the budget to find cost savings. These changes include the removal of some proposed operating projects, street tree planting and reduction of employee costs.

Tough financial times affect everyone and Councillors are acutely aware of this. The budget has been carefully scrutinised, options explored and detailed consideration given over months to achieve a reasonable budget. With a growing community, the expectations of services and amenities from Council is changing and we are adapting to those needs. Modern councils need to be agile and respond to changes in a changing world.

A summary of the 2024/2025 Annual Business Plan and Budget will be available to view on Council’s website from Wednesday 14 August: www.apc.sa.gov.au

Mark Wasley

Mayor

7 August 2024