Budget 2026/27
Quick Tasks
This budget has been prepared with our community front-of-mind, following an extensive engagement process that took place in developing the Council Plan 2025-2029 and Community Vision 2025-2035.
The City of Ballarat Budget 2026/27 was adopted at the 24 June Council Meeting. The City of Ballarat is required under Section 94 of the Local Government Act 2020 to prepare a budget for each financial year and subsequent 3 financial years.
There is a Budget Overview Video that provides a summary on how the budget is developed and where the money comes from.
Budget highlights
- 2.75 per cent average rate increase in line with the State Government rate cap. This equates to $58 per year for the average property. Continued cost-of-living initiatives to help ease the financial pressure on the community
- Waste and recycling service charges will increase by a modest 1.2% which equates to $1.68 per day per household. This charge includes hard rubbish collection establishment costs
- $92.3 million capital works program
- New net borrowings of $11.8 million
- This budget has been developed at a time of continued economic uncertainty and escalating costs. It strikes the right balance between maintaining essential services, investing in our growing city and recognising cost of living pressures
Continuing to address the cost of living
This year’s budget continues to help ease the financial pressure on the community through the following initiatives:
- Retention of a $120 low-income health care card holder rebate
- Maintain the existing single household pensioner rebate of $120
- Free entry to Black Hill and Buninyong outdoor pools during the summer season
- Continued extended hours of Eureka pool for days that exceed 30 degrees
- Free hire of Ballarat Town Hall rooms to community groups, for non-commercial purposes
- Additional library opening hours and programs - this includes extended weekend and evening hours
- Working with small business to ensure prompt payment of invoices to support cash flow