Have your say and help shape Council’s 2026/2027 Budget

The Budget sets where Council will allocate funding for the provision of capital works and delivery of services for the next financial year. The document outlines how resources will be prioritised to deliver over 120 important services to the community, along with the maintenance, renewal and upgrade of $2 billion of community assets.

Last year, Council changed the consultation process to allow more time for community feedback to be received and considered, to help shape the Budget document. Following the success of this, Council will again undertake the consultation at the beginning of the Budget development process to ensure the document better reflects the needs and desires of residents.

The community can provide their feedback on what they would like to see included in the 2026/2027 Budget for four weeks, from Friday 24 October to Friday 21 November 2025, via a survey on the Shaping Greater Shepp website. When filling out the survey, community members will be given the option to request an in-person submission to discuss their feedback with Council in December 2025.

The Budget document will then be developed, taking into account all the community feedback received, before it is endorsed by Council in May 2026.

“Last year, we were able to better understand the needs and priorities of residents, earlier on in the Budget development process,” Mayor, Cr Shane Sali said.

“Community feedback is an extremely important part of compiling Council’s annual Budget. By undertaking early consultation and inviting residents to speak to us in December ahead of the document being developed, we are giving the community the best chance of influencing the Budget and where the money is allocated.”

Council have developed an online survey via the Shaping Greater Shepp website which allows residents to provide general input or feedback on Council’s 2026/2027 Budget or submit a proposal for a specific idea or initiative to be included.

Several success stories came from the community consultation period in developing the 2025/2026 Budget, including:

Congupna Recreation Reserve: Community members submitted a request to prioritise the upgrade of facilities at the reserve. As a result, $748,000 was allocated for these upgrades.
Funding for facilities at Victoria Park Lake: Funding was requested by a community group to install renewed tables and chairs at the Victoria Park Lake Rotary Club BBQ Shelter (near SAM). This community feedback helped inform the Budget with these works prioritised in Council's infrastructure renewal program, with three picnic tables now installed.

Cr Sali said this consultation will be the community’s only opportunity to provide their feedback on the 2026/2027 Budget, so he encouraged residents to get involved.

“The more feedback we receive from the community in the coming month, the better positioned we will be to understand the community’s needs and desires for Greater Shepparton, and where we need to be to maintain financial sustainability,” he said.

“We want to know what people would like to see funded, whether they know of any necessary upgrades to infrastructure or community facilities across the region, or if they would like funding for major programs. Community feedback is extremely valuable and I encourage everyone to have their say now.”

The 2026/2027 Budget consultation survey is open to all Greater Shepparton residents from Friday 24 October until Friday 21 November 2025. Visit shaping.greatershepparton.com.au to view the survey and have your say.

For more information or to chat with someone from Council’s Finance team, phone 5832 9700.