Alpine Shire councillors voted unanimously to adopt what is being termed a 'back to basics' 2025/26 Council Budget, at their monthly meeting held at Bright last week.
Council said the budget prioritised core service delivery, operational efficiencies and maintenance of infrastructure, whilst striking a balance between supporting
community connectedness, growth in the local economy and improving liveability for all residents.
Council’s total income is projected to be $39M, being a reduction from 2024/25 income of $47.47M, which is largely due to a reduction in approved grant funding.
A three per cent rate rise, together with other charges will help raise $23,576,000 in revenue.
Cr Jean-Pierre Ronco, while voting to adopt the budget, had earlier voted against the '2025/26 Rates and Charges' component, with specific concerns over the three per cent rate rise imposed to help fund the budget, with an underlying operating deficit of $1.2m.
He advocated for a zero per cent rate increase to address residents’ immediate cost of living concerns.
“I know we have a lot of work to do for council’s [upcoming] 10 Year Plan to address this deficit,” Cr Ronco said.
“I’m quite optimistic we have a good bunch of councillors, that we could do it.
“I find this year, it’s very important because I see there are residents and ratepayers facing an increase and especially the ESVF (Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund) levy and taxed land and that’s why I want to think carefully about it.
“I don’t advocate for every year to freeze it at a zero rate, but for this year I think it’s very important."
Alpine Shire's 2025/26 annual budget projects an operating surplus of $2.12M and an underlying operating deficit of $1.22M, which has been influenced by:
• a rate increase of three per cent, in line with the Fair Go Rates System, which caps Victorian Council rate increases;
• inclusion of commercial/industrial properties in Dinner Plain in the differential rating policy for commercial/industrial properties;
• capital works expenditure totalling $9.56M;
• a materials and services budget of $15.76M which reflects the financial environment constrained by the rate cap; and
• a modest increase in employee remuneration as a result of the 2023 Enterprise Bargaining Agreement and final increment provided for under the Superannuation Guarantee.
Rates and charges are budgeted at $23,576,000.
Charges include annual waste and recycling, ranging from $381.51 for weekly 240 litre bin and $236.11 for weekly 360 litre recycling bin service.
Highlights of the 2025/26 capital works program include:
- $2.6m to renew road, bridge, footpath and drainage infrastructure.
- $250,000 to deliver new footpaths.
- $80,000 to deliver outdoor fitness equipment in Bright, in collaboration with Rotary Club of Bright.
- $960,000 to complete delivery of the Myrtleford Memorial Hall upgrade and the Nimmo Bridge Pedestrian Crossing.
- $390,000 investment into new and upgraded public amenities in the Kiewa Valley, comprising: $100,000 to upgrade the public amenities in the Tawonga Pioneer
Memorial Park; $140,000 to deliver new public amenities at the Pebble Beach Walk carpark in Mount Beauty; and $150,000 to progress delivery of new public amenities in Tawonga South.
- $60,000 to renew the Dinner Plain tennis courts.
- $160,000 to upgrade community facilities in the Tawonga Pioneer Memorial Park.