Gippsland › Latest news › Latrobe Local News

Have Your Say on Latrobe City 2024/25 Annual Budget via community engagement platform by 26 November 2023

Latrobe City Council invites community input through the Have Your Say platform by November 26, 2023, to integrate community priorities into the 2024/25 Budget for a well-balanced allocation of funds.

By news@gippsland - 6th November 2023 - Back to News

To assist council to develop the 2024/25 Budget, Latrobe City Council will engage with the community to gather ideas and feedback, to be considered as part of the Budget development process. Community members are invited to submit their thoughts via council's Have Your Say engagement platform by 5pm on 26 November 2023.

Latrobe City 2024/25 Annual Budget is in progress, prioritising quality services. Community input is sought to allocate resources effectively. Share project ideas until 26 November 2023

Community input engagement

Council is engaging with the community prior to the 2024/25 Budget being drafted, so that communities can share their priorities before it is developed and to inform the allocated funding of the Budget. Council undertakes a Budget process on an annual basis, to adopt a Budget in accordance with the requirements under the Local Government Act 2020 (the Act).

The Budget focuses on delivering quality services and capital works across the community. Council allocates a percentage of funds to 15 different categories including community safety, building maintenance, family and children, parks and gardens and more.

Pre-budget community input

Mayor of Latrobe City Council, Councillor Kellie O'Callaghan, said through this community engagement council will gain a greater understanding about what service and program areas are important to the community before the Budget is drafted.

"It is important for council to regularly seek out and hear our community's priorities and aspirations. In line with feedback from the 2023/24 Budget process, community consultation will occur at the beginning of the Budget process to allow community insights, whether that be our community's needs and goals, to be considered in the formulation of the Budget," Cr O'Callaghan said.

Budget input change

Mayor O'Callaghan said, "Council operates a significant budget, which provides over 70 services to the community and on average invests over $30 million in capital works programs across the municipality each year. The development of the Annual Budget provides many challenges; it is developed taking into consideration balancing competing priorities and limited resources."

"Previously, the council has engaged with the community about the Budget after the Draft Budget is released. This year, we are doing things a little different and we want your feedback before we start drafting the Budget!" said the Mayor. Community members are invited to submit their Budget feedback via council's Have Your Say engagement platform.

Pictures from Latrobe City Council Facebook page.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com