Annual Budget

The budget process...

From November 2021 through to May 2022, Council participated in workshops to prepare the Town's budget for the 2022-2023 financial year. Workshops included:

  • Determining key budget themes
  • Assessing capital works projects
  • Discussion of service levels

Further details of the Council budget workshops can be found in the project lifecycle to the right.

Community sentiment played an important role in these discussions as, for the first time ever, the Town incorporated a participatory approach into the budget development process.

From February to March, 2022, we asked for your thoughts on the overarching areas of focus for the budget. We then held a series of Community Budget Workshops in casual cafe settings to provide community members with the opportunity to speak to Elected Members and Town staff about budget priorities, within this year’s endorsed budget themes:

  • Clean and green Vic Park
  • Thriving and vibrant Vic Park
  • Improving the Town’s financial health

This community feedback will continue to help inform the way the Town approaches major projects, events and community engagement over the financial year to come.

Results of these engagements can be viewed from the document library.

Why was “Improving the Town's financial health” a budget theme this year?

  • In the 2019/20 budget, Council made no increase to rates.
  • In the 2020/21 budget, Council approved a 7.88% reduction in rates, with no increase in fees and charges, primarily in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
  • In the 2021/22 budget, Council increased rates by 0.88%

Since April 2020, the impact from the global pandemic led Council to make short-term support for the community a priority – this has been reflected in business relief initiatives, community group financial concessions and significant rates concessions. Like most organisations and businesses, the Town has also experienced periods of lost revenue from government shutdowns.

The Town’s role is to advise Council about the implications of the last couple of years on the Town’s financial sustainability, its ability to meet the medium to long-term aspirations in the Strategic Community Plan and Long Term Financial Plan, and how the Town’s financial health may be improved through the Annual Budget.

Ultimately it is Council’s decision how to achieve that financial sustainability in the best interests of the community.

What's happening now

Council endorsed the Annual Budget 2022-23 on 12 July at a Special Council Meeting. The budget represents an average 3.5% increase in rates, down from an expected 4.6% rise.

Rates notices are expected to be delivered in September.

The Town will host a free 'Understanding Your Budget' workshop at the Victoria Park Library on Wednesday 17 August from 6pm. Mayor Karen Vernon and a member of our finance team will offer information on how the 2022-23 Annual Budget was created and run through some of the capital works projects planned this financial year. Please register via the form below. Attendance for this event is capped at 40.

Further updates

Further updates on the 2022-23 budget will occur over the coming months and will be made available via this page, the Town's website, e-newsletters and our social media channels. For a detailed overview of the budget, visit vicpark.info/BudgetExplained.

The budget process...

From November 2021 through to May 2022, Council participated in workshops to prepare the Town's budget for the 2022-2023 financial year. Workshops included:

  • Determining key budget themes
  • Assessing capital works projects
  • Discussion of service levels

Further details of the Council budget workshops can be found in the project lifecycle to the right.

Community sentiment played an important role in these discussions as, for the first time ever, the Town incorporated a participatory approach into the budget development process.

From February to March, 2022, we asked for your thoughts on the overarching areas of focus for the budget. We then held a series of Community Budget Workshops in casual cafe settings to provide community members with the opportunity to speak to Elected Members and Town staff about budget priorities, within this year’s endorsed budget themes:

  • Clean and green Vic Park
  • Thriving and vibrant Vic Park
  • Improving the Town’s financial health

This community feedback will continue to help inform the way the Town approaches major projects, events and community engagement over the financial year to come.

Results of these engagements can be viewed from the document library.

Why was “Improving the Town's financial health” a budget theme this year?

  • In the 2019/20 budget, Council made no increase to rates.
  • In the 2020/21 budget, Council approved a 7.88% reduction in rates, with no increase in fees and charges, primarily in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
  • In the 2021/22 budget, Council increased rates by 0.88%

Since April 2020, the impact from the global pandemic led Council to make short-term support for the community a priority – this has been reflected in business relief initiatives, community group financial concessions and significant rates concessions. Like most organisations and businesses, the Town has also experienced periods of lost revenue from government shutdowns.

The Town’s role is to advise Council about the implications of the last couple of years on the Town’s financial sustainability, its ability to meet the medium to long-term aspirations in the Strategic Community Plan and Long Term Financial Plan, and how the Town’s financial health may be improved through the Annual Budget.

Ultimately it is Council’s decision how to achieve that financial sustainability in the best interests of the community.

What's happening now

Council endorsed the Annual Budget 2022-23 on 12 July at a Special Council Meeting. The budget represents an average 3.5% increase in rates, down from an expected 4.6% rise.

Rates notices are expected to be delivered in September.

The Town will host a free 'Understanding Your Budget' workshop at the Victoria Park Library on Wednesday 17 August from 6pm. Mayor Karen Vernon and a member of our finance team will offer information on how the 2022-23 Annual Budget was created and run through some of the capital works projects planned this financial year. Please register via the form below. Attendance for this event is capped at 40.

Further updates

Further updates on the 2022-23 budget will occur over the coming months and will be made available via this page, the Town's website, e-newsletters and our social media channels. For a detailed overview of the budget, visit vicpark.info/BudgetExplained.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    RSVP to attend Understanding Your Budget workshop

    Join Mayor Karen Vernon and a member of the Town's Finance Team to hear about the process behind developing this year's Annual Budget, and see where improvements are planned over the coming financial year. 

    Where: Victoria Park Library, 27 Sussex St, East Victoria Park
    When: 6-7pm, Wednesday 17 August
    Cost: Free

    Attendance for this event is capped at 40. 

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Budget focus survey

    Results and findings from the budget focus survey are available from the document library.

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    RSVP to attend a Community Budget Workshop

    The Town of Victoria Park held three Community Budget Workshops at local cafes to facilitate discussion between Councillors and the community.

    These workshops formed part of the Town’s overall participatory budget engagement, and gave community members the opportunity to have their say on what matters to them. 

    Results and findings from the workshops are available to view from the document library.

Page last updated: 16 Dec 2024, 02:22 PM