Hume City councillors voted through its next annual budget and Council Plan on Monday 23 June, meaning general rates and household rubbish collection charges will go up from July. It also gave itself more than $40m to improve its image.
The budget didn’t get the support of all councillors though, Kate Hamley (Emu Creek Ward) and Jim Overend (Burt-kur-min Ward) voted against it (2/9).
The council’s general rates income will now rise by 3%, the maximum allowed under the state’s rate cap. The amounts bill payers see on their rates demand will vary depending on property value.
However, first quarter figures (released February 2025) show the council is staring down the barrel of a $54m shortfall in rates take, with $43m owed by residential property owners across the city. Of Hume’s 106,500 rateable properties, more than 46,000 are in arrears.
Nevertheless, the budget includes a hefty $41m for council to spend on increasing public trust in the organisation. This cash will be drawn from its services and infrastructure budget, and is equivalent to $153 for every man, woman, and child in the city – or almost 20% of the services and infrastructure spend.
Its 2025/26 budget includes $218m for services and infrastructure initiatives across the city, namely:
- $90.01m towards a liveable city of well-designed and connected places
- $58.82m towards a climate resilient city with a healthy natural environment
- $27.71m towards a healthy community that is inclusive and proud
- $41.57m towards a well-governed council that is strategic and trusted
In addition, almost $38m will be used to improve, upgrade, and develop new buildings, including:
- $3.45m – Vic Foster Reserve Pavilion upgrade
- $7.64m – Jacksons Hill Arts and Culture Precinct (work is now underway)
- $4.71m – Willowbrook Recreation Reserve Pavilion
- $3.29m – Hume Hockey Centre second pitch
That’s a total of $256.09m.
Council’s cost-of-living relief package includes:
- Free access to council leisure centres
- Ongoing support through the household energy program
- Targeted initiatives to reduce everyday costs for families
The Council Plan details city hall’s priorities for the next four years as it works towards Hume Community Vision 2045 that aims to “…promote and enhance public health and wellbeing in everything we do – and reinforce our longstanding commitment to advancing social justice in our city”.
Full council press release here.
