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Survey - 2025-2026 Budget, Long-Term Financial Planning Framework

Survey - 2025-2026 Budget, Long-Term Financial Planning Framework

For those who just think of Council as just rates, roads and rubbish, you might be surprised to learn that we operate and provide over 30 unique services to our community which, with rate-capping and limited external funding opportunities, is not an easy feat to achieve.

Preparing the Budget is an important step in shaping Council’s annual plan in relation to programs, the delivery of projects, and services to meet community’s needs.

Your thoughts, ideas, and feedback ultimately helps us to develop the annual budget and determine how services are financially supported for the year.

We invite you to take this quick survey and tell us what services you use most and which are most important to you and your family. It could be childcare, aged and disability, libraries, waste services, road maintenance, public arts and culture, sporting facilities, public amenities – we want to hear your thoughts on how we should prioritise service delivery!

0% answered

How familiar are you with Council’s budget and long-term financial plan process and/or the documents it produces?

Very familiar

Somewhat familiar

Not very familiar

Not familiar at all

Council provides over 30 services to the community. What Council-provided services and infrastructure do you normally participate in or use?

(Select all applicable)

Public toilets, parks and playgrounds

Roads, carparks and bridges

Footpaths and bike paths

Drainage (township and rural)

Arts and Culture events (i.e Moyneyana, Australia Day Awards)

Libraries

Environmental projects (i.e Community Carbon Offset Grant Program, DIY home energy audit kits))

Kerbside collection

Local Laws (i.e pet registration, reporting stock on road)

Recreation reserves

Support during emergency situations (i.e Emergency Relief Centre, fire prevention actions)

Child care and long day care

Kindergartens

Maternal and Child Health Nurses

Aged and disability support (i.e domestic assistance, personal care, respite, property maintenance, food services and transport)

Home care packages (helping seniors with complex care needs to live independently)

Youth services and events (i.e NextGen, Moyne Youth Arts Collective, FReeZa events)

Statutory Building (i.e building permits and applications)

Planning (i.e planning permits and applications)

Business support (i.e Business Facade grant, business events, Small Town Incentive grants)

Caravan parks

Port Fairy Visitor Information Centre

Port of Port Fairy

Processing and awarding tenders

Swimming pools

Community venues (i.e Koroit Theatre, Peterborough Community Hall, Victoria Park)

Participated in any cultural, health, education and leisure activities

Waste transfer stations

Community health and wellbeing activities / events (Seniors Festival, donating to FoodShare, Good Sports Workshops)

Of the services we provide, what are the top five you see as being the most important for the future of the shire?

Public toilets, parks and playgrounds

Roads, carparks and bridges

Footpaths and bike paths

Libraries

Environmental projects (i.e Community Carbon Offset Grant Program, DIY home energy audit kits))

Kerbside collection

Recreation reserves

Local Laws (i.e pet registration, reporting stock on road)

Support during emergency situations (i.e Emergency Relief Centre, fire prevention actions)

Arts and Culture events (i.e Moyneyana, Australia Day Awards)

Kindergartens

Maternal and Child Health Nurses

Aged and disability support (i.e domestic assistance, personal care, respite, property maintenance, food services and transport)

Child care and long day care

Drainage (township and rural)

Home care packages (helping seniors with complex care needs to live independently)

Youth services and events (i.e NextGen, Moyne Youth Arts Collective, FReeZa events)

Statutory Building (i.e building permits and applications)

Planning (i.e planning permits and applications)

Business support (i.e Business Facade grant, business events, Small Town Incentive grants)

Caravan parks

Processing and awarding tenders

Port Fairy Visitor Information Centre

Community venues (i.e Koroit Theatre, Peterborough Community Hall, Victoria Park)

Participated in any cultural, health, education and leisure activities

Waste transfer stations

Swimming pools

Port of Port Fairy

Community health and wellbeing activities / events (Seniors Festival, donating to FoodShare, Good Sports Workshops)

How would you rate the value for dollar you receive for Council’s programs and services?

Very good

Good

Fair

Poor

Very poor

Unsure

If you had to choose between rate increases and lower levels of assets and service provision, which one would you choose?

No rate increase, with lower levels of asset maintenance and less services provided to the community.

Modest rate increase, with similar levels of asset maintenance and service provided to the community.

Modest rate increase with increased level of asset maintenance and upgrades.

Higher rate increase and higher levels of asset maintenance and services provided to the community.

Higher rate increase and higher level of asset maintenance and upgrades.

What do you think about Council’s current financial position (as presented in its latest Annual Budget and/or Financial Statements?)

Very good

Good

Okay

Bad

Very bad

What ideas do you have to continue to improve Council’s financial position?

How important is it to you that funding for infrastructure such as roads, bridges and buildings ensures existing service levels can be provided into the future?

Important

Not important

Unsure

Overall – thinking about the documents Council provides around financial management (Budget and Long Term Financial Plan) - what do you think is a good indicator of financial sustainability?

That income exceeds expenses.

That Council has a specific amount of cash in the bank at the end of the year.

That Council is spending more money on capital works than deprecation.

That Council assets are well maintained and fit for purpose.

That loans outstanding are no more than 30% of the annual rate revenue.

10.

Do you have any other comments you would like to provide about Council's budget or long-term financial plan?

11.

Council would like to collect some information about you/your organisation to add context to the responses:

Individual

Organisation

Decline to answer

12.

If you are completing this survey as an individual, what is your age bracket?

Under 18

18-30

31-45

46-60

61-80

Over 90

13.

If you are completing on behalf of an organisation, what type of organisation are you completing the survey for? E.g. Progress association, school, volunteer group etc.

Maximum 255 characters

0/255

14.

Would you like to be contacted by Council to discuss any of these documents further?

Yes

Option 3