Draft Operational Plan and Budget for 2023-24

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Public Exhibition

Draft Operational Plan and Budget 2023-2024, Fees and Charges 2023-2024, Revenue Policy 2023-2024

Each year by 30 June Council is required to:

  • Adopt the Operational Plan and Budget for the next financial year.
  • Adopt the Revenue Policy for the next financial year.
  • Adopt the Fees and Charges Schedule for the next financial year.

The 2023-2024 versions of these documents were endorsed for Public Exhibition for 28 days, as required by the Local Government Act 1993, by Councillors at the Extraordinary Council Meeting on 16 May 2023.

The period of Public Exhibition of the draft documents will be from 17 May 2023 to 14 June 2023.

Operational Plan and Budget 2023-2024

At the 23 November 2022 meeting of Council, Council resolved to apply for a permanent Special Rate Variation (SRV). As at 16 May 2023, the outcome of the SRV application is not yet known.

Therefore, the preparation of the 2023-24 budget has required the preparation of two scenarios in anticipation of an IPART outcome:

Scenario One (SRV): includes the rate peg and a 58.8% (Cumulative) Special Variation. A rate peg of 2.5% is assumed for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 financial years.

Scenario Two (Managed Decline): This scenario excludes the proposed 58.8% (Cumulative) Special Variation. A rate peg of 3.7% has been applied for the 2023-2024 year and assumes a 2.5% increase for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 financial years.

Due to the requirement for Council to adopt a Revenue Policy and Budget by 30 June each year, the documents for public exhibition contain the two scenarios. Council will adopt a scenario dependant on IPART’s decision. It is expected that IPART’s decision will be known prior to the council meeting to adopt the budget on 29 June 2023 and the documents will be updated in advance of the council meeting to align with IPART’s decision. Should IPART choose a mid-point between the Scenario One (SRV) and Scenario Two (Managed Decline), upon receipt of this decision council will commence a review of the budget scenarios and determine an appropriate path worked off reducing Scenario One to reflect the approved SRV.

Fees and Charges 2023-2024 and Revenue Policy 2023-2024

These documents outline the rates, charges and fees necessary to raise the funding required to support the budget position and funding of proposed activities outlined in the Operational Plan.

Council had revised the Fees and Charges based on current economic indicators. Increases in all fees and charges have broadly reflected CPI (approx. 7%).

Community members would have recently received notification via letter from the Valuer General regarding new land values and levying rates for the 2023-2024 rating year. It is important to note that an increase in land values will not change Council’s total rates income, but will result in changes to the rates levied on individual properties (this change could result in an increase or a decrease depending on the property).

The full Council Report, as well as all the relevant documents are available on this page.

Send in a submission:

Submissions are invited and must be addressed to the General Manager, Armidale Regional Council, PO Box 75A, Armidale NSW 2350 or sent by email to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au

Submissions close Wednesday 14 June 2023

Please be aware that if you make a submission, other people may have access to your comments and your name. This may be as a result of a report to a Council meeting. Reports to Council Meetings are available to the public.

Public Exhibition

Draft Operational Plan and Budget 2023-2024, Fees and Charges 2023-2024, Revenue Policy 2023-2024

Each year by 30 June Council is required to:

  • Adopt the Operational Plan and Budget for the next financial year.
  • Adopt the Revenue Policy for the next financial year.
  • Adopt the Fees and Charges Schedule for the next financial year.

The 2023-2024 versions of these documents were endorsed for Public Exhibition for 28 days, as required by the Local Government Act 1993, by Councillors at the Extraordinary Council Meeting on 16 May 2023.

The period of Public Exhibition of the draft documents will be from 17 May 2023 to 14 June 2023.

Operational Plan and Budget 2023-2024

At the 23 November 2022 meeting of Council, Council resolved to apply for a permanent Special Rate Variation (SRV). As at 16 May 2023, the outcome of the SRV application is not yet known.

Therefore, the preparation of the 2023-24 budget has required the preparation of two scenarios in anticipation of an IPART outcome:

Scenario One (SRV): includes the rate peg and a 58.8% (Cumulative) Special Variation. A rate peg of 2.5% is assumed for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 financial years.

Scenario Two (Managed Decline): This scenario excludes the proposed 58.8% (Cumulative) Special Variation. A rate peg of 3.7% has been applied for the 2023-2024 year and assumes a 2.5% increase for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 financial years.

Due to the requirement for Council to adopt a Revenue Policy and Budget by 30 June each year, the documents for public exhibition contain the two scenarios. Council will adopt a scenario dependant on IPART’s decision. It is expected that IPART’s decision will be known prior to the council meeting to adopt the budget on 29 June 2023 and the documents will be updated in advance of the council meeting to align with IPART’s decision. Should IPART choose a mid-point between the Scenario One (SRV) and Scenario Two (Managed Decline), upon receipt of this decision council will commence a review of the budget scenarios and determine an appropriate path worked off reducing Scenario One to reflect the approved SRV.

Fees and Charges 2023-2024 and Revenue Policy 2023-2024

These documents outline the rates, charges and fees necessary to raise the funding required to support the budget position and funding of proposed activities outlined in the Operational Plan.

Council had revised the Fees and Charges based on current economic indicators. Increases in all fees and charges have broadly reflected CPI (approx. 7%).

Community members would have recently received notification via letter from the Valuer General regarding new land values and levying rates for the 2023-2024 rating year. It is important to note that an increase in land values will not change Council’s total rates income, but will result in changes to the rates levied on individual properties (this change could result in an increase or a decrease depending on the property).

The full Council Report, as well as all the relevant documents are available on this page.

Send in a submission:

Submissions are invited and must be addressed to the General Manager, Armidale Regional Council, PO Box 75A, Armidale NSW 2350 or sent by email to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au

Submissions close Wednesday 14 June 2023

Please be aware that if you make a submission, other people may have access to your comments and your name. This may be as a result of a report to a Council meeting. Reports to Council Meetings are available to the public.

Page last updated: 17 May 2023, 02:21 PM