Draft Annual Business Plan and Budget 2025/2026 released for community feedback

Published 4th June 2025

Adelaide Plains Council’s draft Annual Business Plan and Budget 2025/26 is open for feedback from the community from Wednesday 4 June to 9am Monday 30 June 2025.

Council has developed a considered forward plan which ensures it can continue to provide regular services to the community and meet its obligations on asset renewal programs, in alignment with its Strategic Plan.

Key projects featured in the business plan include:

$4.5 million capital works program focused on asset renewal and maintenance, including 42km of road resheeting and 10km of road resealing
New youth development program to support the wellbeing and skills of young people
$100,000 Community Partnership Fund to support local community projects
New lighting, footpaths and pedestrian crossings in various locations around Two Wells

All day-to-day services and programs will continue to be delivered, supported by an estimated $3 million in grant funding for roads, coastal conservation and libraries.

The draft budget proposes a 2.8% average rate increase, with an average rate per rateable property of $2,308, which in simple terms is $63 per year, or $1.21 per week compared to 2024/25. The average increase will look slightly different for each land use code. For a residential property, the average rate will be $2,173, which is an increase of $79 per year, or $1.53 per week.

Council is also proposing to introduce a 15% rates cap where the valuation increase is not the result of development on the property, to reduce unreasonable hardship on ratepayers.

Financially, $24.7 million is budgeted for recurrent, operating and capital expenses. Recurrent income of $19.9 million is estimated, including $15.8 million from general rates.

Extremes in ratepayer expectations of Council services creates a very challenging situation for Council Members to decide what services are increased, maintained or removed. Council Members are at all times considering ways to find that balance and meet those expectations. Raising enough revenue from rates while at the same time trying not to incur unreasonable hardship on ratepayers is difficult.

What we have worked hard to do this year is produce a workable, reasonable and fair budget given the state of living challenges we all face.

At the beginning of this year, workshops, information sessions and briefings were held where Council Members agreed to start with a clean slate approach to developing this financial year’s budget. The known assumptions for maintaining current service levels along with known or expected recurrent costs sets the base line. This gives us a reasonable dollar target that needs to be raised to deliver these services.

“Council Members, acutely aware of the cost of living pressures facing society as well as the devastating impact that drought is having over our farming sector, have been diligent in charting a course for 2025/2026,’ said James Miller, Chief Executive Officer.

“That said, Council, like any other business, is not immune from inflation hikes, the cost of ‘doing business’, the need to maintain our expansive asset base while continuing to provide services to our community. It’s a tough balance to strike.”

Feedback from the community is important and people can comment on any part of the plan, including rates and charges, the capital works program, or proposed projects.

The full document can be viewed on Council’s website, or at the offices in Mallala or Two Wells.

The community can have their say by:

Sending feedback online