Golden Plains Shire residents will be able to share their ideas on Council’s Draft Budget 2023/24 at an online community forum on Tuesday 14 February.
The forum begins Council’s annual Budget Engagement Program and gives residents an opportunity to learn more about the Budget and understand financial priorities for the 2023/24 financial year.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Brett Cunningham said Council is committed to genuine and authentic engagement to ensure residents can be heard and that their level of influence is clearly understood.
“This community online forum is an opportunity for resident priorities to be considered during the development of a financially responsible budget.
“We want to provide residents with an opportunity to talk to us about what their priorities are for the next 12 months, talk to us about what’s important to them in relation to services and initiatives, and this will help us build our 2023/24 Budget.
“Council greatly values community feedback and insights. We are lucky to have an engaged and passionate community who have a deep well of knowledge and lived experience.
“We also recognise our community is growing rapidly. We’re committed to developing a financially responsible budget, built on good governance, while continuing to deliver services and projects that are most important to the community now and into the future”
The online forum will take place on Tuesday 14 February from 6.00pm to 8.00pm, and the meeting link will be accessible to the public here.
Hosted by Council’s Finance Team, the online forum will cover a range of topics including an overview of the Budget timeline, Budget composition, Council Services, Draft Capital Program, Council Plan 2021-2025 themes and actions and Council costs. Residents will have an opportunity to discuss priorities with team members, and the forum will also highlight the Council Budget 2023/24 Community Survey.
Following the forum, there will further opportunities to comment on Council’s Budget 2023/24 before it is finalised in June this year.
Residents are also encouraged to complete the Council Budget 2023/24 Community Survey which opens on Tuesday 14 February. The survey will be available at Council’s website: goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations.