Alexandrina Council adopted its Annual Community Plan 2025/26 and Long Term Financial Plan 2025-2035 at a Special Meeting on Monday 7 July.

“This Annual Community Plan reaffirms our commitment to keeping rates affordable while ensuring long-term financial sustainability,” says Alexandrina Mayor Keith Parkes.

“The Plan works around an average rate increase of 3.05%, comprising the March Adelaide CPI of 2.2% and an additional 0.85% to support financial sustainability - reflecting the rising cost of maintaining public assets. 

“This average rate increase was proposed in the draft Annual Community Plan 2025/26.

“This year’s budget and the Long Term Financial Plan are the result of months of work with our new Executive Team to reform Council’s finances and provide a sensible balance while looking towards improvements in the future.

“This work has resulted in a significant reduction in forecast discretionary expenditure while continuing to deliver of all of Council’s existing community services and programs and providing full funding for the renewal of essential assets such as roads, footpaths, and buildings.

“We have also taken major steps to address the concerns about the Council’s long-term financial sustainability raised in the Essential Services Commission of South Australia report released in February.

“The work by Council Members and our Executive Team has significantly improved our financial outlook. 

“These actions have eased pressure on rates, reduce debt, and set us on course to return to surplus by 2027/28 - with strong, ongoing surpluses projected in following years.”

Final capital value figures from the Office of the Valuer-General showed rate revenue growth reduced from 1.8% as forecast in the draft Annual Community Plan to 1.4% for the adopted Plan. 

This reduction has been offset by a reduction in discretionary rate rebates and additional income in CWMS fixed charges.

The average residential property with 10.7% increase in capital value will experience an increase in general rates of $77 to $2,545, while the average primary production property with a 7.5% increase in capital value is increasing by $54 to $2,812.

The council is proposing an operating deficit of $2.082 million, but says the Long Term Financial Plan 2025-2035 shows it remains on track to achieve a surplus by 2027/28, that it is able to reduce its debt from $46.6 million to $9.7 million by 2035 and that it has the financial capacity necessary to support its growing community.

In the 2025/26 budget, $15.970 million will be set aside for capital expenditure on renewal of existing assets with $5.434 million for capital expenditure on new or upgraded assets.

“I would like to thank everyone who participated in the public consultation process on the Annual Community Plan 2025/26,” Mayor Parkes says.

“Council Members did listen to community feedback, and we brought forward the Middleton stormwater mitigation project into the 2025/26 financial year.

“We are also delivering several small infrastructure projects requested by the community during public consultation and we have adopted a continuous improvement program.”

Projects and budget adjustments made to the draft Annual Community Plan which were resolved by Council at the Special Council Meeting include the following:

• Inclusion of $70,000 for Albyn Terrace, Strathalbyn electrical works to install power outlets to support ‘Christmas Where the Angas Flows’ and other similar events.
• Decrease from $250,000 to $200,000 for the design of Strathalbyn Recreation Precinct (Lot 10).
• Decrease in information technology software budget - $150,000.
• A $30,000 decrease in grant program funding given the nature of some of the new operating projects for 2025/26.
• An increase of $10,000 to the Council contribution to the traffic management costs of ‘Christmas Where the Angas Flows’ event in Strathalbyn.
• Strathalbyn Swimming Pool season extension trail 2025/26 – $35,000.
• Burgess Oval Irrigation for the Mount Compass Cricket Club - $21,000.
• Goolwa Netball Club shelters - $10,000.
• Langhorne Creek Netball Club shed - $10,000.
• Community Survey - $30,000.
• Special contribution for 2025/26 for 10 community halls - $10,000 (total).
• Community Trees giveaway initiative - $5,000 (details to be confirmed).
• Stakeholder consultation on Cadell Street progressive tree replacement.