Budget input opens early

EVEN though the Golden Plains Shire municipal budget doesn’t need to be approved for a number of months, councillors have kicked off a new community engagement initiative.

The process is aimed at allowing residents to take part in the direction of the 2022/23 financial plan and is seeking to gather community feedback through a series of different methods.

Mayor Cr Gavin Gamble said upcoming consultation sessions could provide the opportunity to give a voice to community priorities.

“The pre-budget engagement is a new initiative of councillors in response to requests from community members to have their say earlier in the budget development process,” he said.

The initiative, in the form of a community survey, until 5pm Wednesday, 23 February and there’ll also be a virtual community workshop session on Thursday, 10 February between 7pm and 9pm.

A link to the session will be posted at goldenplains.vic.gov.au before the event.

“The annual council budget details the financial commitment to deliver on the Council Plan 2021-2025,” Cr Gamble said.

“And it’s very important that we respect the significant community consultation that went into developing the Plan last year.

“With this pre-budget engagement, we are asking residents to share their priorities for the 12 months in relation to community services areas and initiatives within the Council Plan 2021-2025.”

Community feedback on the 2022/23 budget draft will be sent to the April council meeting, and then fiscal plan will go back out for more public comment before a final vote on the document in June.

The survey can either be completed at goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations, or hard copies can be handed in at Shire customer service centres at Bannockburn and Smythesdale.

Surveys can also be emailed to [email protected] or posted to Box 111, Bannockburn, 3331.