Council’s Draft 2025–26 Budget and Fees & Charges on exhibition
Published on 13 May 2025
Murray River Council is inviting the community to review and provide feedback on its draft 2025/26 Operational Plan, consisting of the draft Revenue Policy, the draft Schedule of Fees and Charges and the draft 2025-26 Budget.
The draft Operational Plan outlines the projects, services, and initiatives Council proposes to deliver in the next financial year, including a $34.6 million capital works program.
The proposed budget is based on a 5.30% increase in general rate revenue, in line with the rate cap set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) of NSW.
The 2025/26 budget also forecasts an operating deficit of $3.930 million, excluding capital grants and gains or losses from asset sales.
Mayor Cr John Harvie said the budget reflects the financial realities faced by rural councils while striving to maintain service delivery and progress infrastructure upgrades.
“It’s a carefully considered budget that keeps us on the right path for this year,” Cr Harvie said.
“Asset maintenance and renewal, particularly on our transport network, account for the majority of the projected spend, but we are confident this budget strikes a balance between focusing on our assets, fulfilling general levels of service and continuing delivery of some community projects,” he said.
Some of the larger areas of committed capital spend in councils 25/26 budget include:
- Regional Road Renewals $3.7 million
- Kyalite Road Widening $3.6 million
- Moama Water Treatment Plant Upgrades $2.5 million
- Koraleigh Landfill Rehabilitation $1.7m
- Unsealed Road Resheeting $1.3m
- Moama Sewer Treatment Plant Upgrades $1.3m
- Barham Sewer Treatment Plant Upgrades $1.1m
- Other asset replacements $4 million
The 2025/26 draft budget estimates an operating revenue of $64.8 million (excluding capital items) and operating expenses of $68.8 million for the coming year.
Of the proposed $34.6 million capital works program, $23 million will come from internal resources, while $11.6 million will be funded through capital grants and contributions.
Council’s rates, charges and fees only make up around half of council’s total revenue to cover expenses.
Access and usage charges for water and sewer will also only see increases in line with the rate cap (around 6%) this year, due to full cost recovery now being in place.
Cr Harvie acknowledged the ongoing financial pressures facing local government, including constrained revenue growth and declining federal support. Even with a break-even position, the Water & Sewer Funds will continue to face pressures to ensure that services are maintained for a growing population and that ageing infrastructure is maintained.
“At a time of continued high inflation and revenue-raising limitations, the impact of the reduction in the commonwealth’s Financial Assistance Grant (FAGs) really comes into focus,” he said.
“Alarmingly, annual FAGs have decreased from 1% of Commonwealth taxation revenue in 1996 to just 0.5% today.”
“That equates to around $10million a year for Murray River Council.’
“On top of this, councils continue to face cost shifting from other levels of government. It’s unsustainable, and we’ll be continuing our advocacy in this space,” Cr Harvie said.
Murray River Council’s draft budget documents are available for public comment until 11 June 2025 and can be viewed online at yoursay.murrayriver.nsw.gov.au
Following the exhibition period, any submissions will be considered and the final Operational Plan adopted at a Council meeting to be held towards the end of June.
“I’d encourage the community to take a look through the draft documents to get a better understanding of charges and expenses for the coming year,” Cr Harvie said.
“The community is also reminded that Council has a Rates and Hardship Policy, which can be utilised by any ratepayers who are finding it difficult to make their payments by the due dates.”