VicVision - participatory budgeting

Consultation has concluded

The Town is undertaking a major review of its highest level planning document, the Strategic Community Plan (SCP). The SCP is our blueprint for the Town and outlines the vision, outcomes and priorities for our community over a twelve year period.

This participatory budgeting exercise is a means for community to provide feedback on the Town's future budget and to help inform the Long-Term Financial Plan and the VicVision project.

In the 2020-2021 annual budget considerations, Council adopted a 7.88% rate reduction to help our community and ratepayers deal with the impact of COVID-19. The presented budget in this has been amended to what a typical future budget cycle for the Town may look like.

Participatory budgeting is just one of the ways in which you can be involved in VicVision. Please visit VicVision to find out more.

Find out more information

The Town is undertaking a major review of its highest level planning document, the Strategic Community Plan (SCP). The SCP is our blueprint for the Town and outlines the vision, outcomes and priorities for our community over a twelve year period.

This participatory budgeting exercise is a means for community to provide feedback on the Town's future budget and to help inform the Long-Term Financial Plan and the VicVision project.

In the 2020-2021 annual budget considerations, Council adopted a 7.88% rate reduction to help our community and ratepayers deal with the impact of COVID-19. The presented budget in this has been amended to what a typical future budget cycle for the Town may look like.

Participatory budgeting is just one of the ways in which you can be involved in VicVision. Please visit VicVision to find out more.

Find out more information

Juggle the numbers

How do I use the tool?

Click on the VicVision Balancing Act below. You can see where the money is spent, move money around or raise more income by increasing rates revenue, fees and charges revenue or take on new loan borrowings. If you adjust one item of spending, you have to take it away from another. You can also make comments on changes as you go.

There are complex decisions to make. It is not something you will probably do quickly, so please allow time so you can fully understand the decisions. You will notice some items are locked, this is because Council has some revenue and spending lines that are not easily changed, for instance grants received from State and Federal Government or finance costs associated with loan repayments. 

When moving the money around think about:

  • What services or projects are needed now or in the future?
  • What is financially responsible?
  • Will adjusting rates affordability affect the services already provided or projects underway?
  • Will changing the money to this item mean a lower or better service to the community?
  • Who benefits from changes and who should pay?
  • If l spend more, will increasing rates or borrowing be something the community would approve?

The key rule is that you can submit your entry with a SURPLUS but not a DEFICIT. 

When using the tool, an increase (surplus) or decrease (deficit) of approximately $470,000 within this exercise, would equate to either a 1% rate increase or decrease for ratepayers.

There are key information and help bubbles that will assist you on along the way.

  
Consultation has concluded
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.