Council Budget

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We'd like to hear your feedback and ideas about the Council projects and services that matter most to you to help us shape the Council Budget and plan for future capital works and initiatives.

What is the Council Budget?

Our annual budget is our public statement of priorities, describing the projects and services we intend to provide and what funds are needed to deliver them. Budget expenditure is driven by the services we deliver, and the objectives contained in the Council Plan 2025-29.

The Council Budget is also informed by our Long-Term Financial Plan, which covers a 10-year period and demonstrates how we remain financially sustainable to achieve the actions of the Council Plan.

To view a copy of the 2025-26 Council Budget or learn more about the budget process, please visit eastgippsland.vic.gov.au.

2026-2027 Council Budget Outcome 23 June 2026

Thank you to everyone who contributed their views through our online feedback options, at community pop-up sessions, stakeholder meetings, or other direct engagement opportunities.”

A total of 340 people responded to the online survey, 46 contributed through a survey at community pop-ups, and 16 individual submissions were received. There were more than 1,100 visits to our online feedback page.

Community feedback is central to our budget process and helps us create a sustainable long-term financial plan that addresses the community needs and expectations outlined in our Community Vision and Council Plan 2025-29.


We welcome your continued interest in this initiative. Updates will be provided on Your Say. Please click 'Subscribe' at the top of the page to follow this project and receive important information directly to your inbox. If you want to search for other projects near you, simply type the town name in the search bar.

We'd like to hear your feedback and ideas about the Council projects and services that matter most to you to help us shape the Council Budget and plan for future capital works and initiatives.

What is the Council Budget?

Our annual budget is our public statement of priorities, describing the projects and services we intend to provide and what funds are needed to deliver them. Budget expenditure is driven by the services we deliver, and the objectives contained in the Council Plan 2025-29.

The Council Budget is also informed by our Long-Term Financial Plan, which covers a 10-year period and demonstrates how we remain financially sustainable to achieve the actions of the Council Plan.

To view a copy of the 2025-26 Council Budget or learn more about the budget process, please visit eastgippsland.vic.gov.au.

2026-2027 Council Budget Outcome 23 June 2026

Thank you to everyone who contributed their views through our online feedback options, at community pop-up sessions, stakeholder meetings, or other direct engagement opportunities.”

A total of 340 people responded to the online survey, 46 contributed through a survey at community pop-ups, and 16 individual submissions were received. There were more than 1,100 visits to our online feedback page.

Community feedback is central to our budget process and helps us create a sustainable long-term financial plan that addresses the community needs and expectations outlined in our Community Vision and Council Plan 2025-29.


We welcome your continued interest in this initiative. Updates will be provided on Your Say. Please click 'Subscribe' at the top of the page to follow this project and receive important information directly to your inbox. If you want to search for other projects near you, simply type the town name in the search bar.

  • 2026/2027 Budget adopted

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    Council adopted its 2026/27 Budget on 23 June 2026, with a focus on supporting community, protecting critical services, and ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable over the long term.

    The Budget demonstrates a careful balance between service delivery, infrastructure investment and responding to cost-of-living pressures facing the community.

    The 2026/27 Budget:

    • Average rate increase of 2.5%, below the State Government cap and below CPI.
    • More than $54.4 million in capital works investment, with $22.7m funded by grants.
    • $1.5m in savings and efficiency measures to help manage rising costs, in addition to $2m in ongoing savings achieved in 2025/26.
    • $483,000 in pensioner rebates.
    • Delivers investment in roads, parks, community facilities and essential services across the shire, while acknowledging the cost-of-living pressures many households are facing.

    As a Council delivering services across 21,000 km² – approximately 10% of Victoria – there is an ongoing challenge of efficiently delivering services across a large and dispersed region. Our demographics and geography often require duplication of services to ensure all communities are supported, including multiple service centres, waste transfer stations, libraries and open spaces. This comes at a cost that must be balanced against our commitment to support communities.

    Read our media releases:

    Council adopted its 2026/27 Budget on 23 June 2026, with a focus on supporting community, protecting critical services, and ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable over the long term.

    The Budget demonstrates a careful balance between service delivery, infrastructure investment and responding to cost-of-living pressures facing the community.

    The 2026/27 Budget:

    • Average rate increase of 2.5%, below the State Government cap and below CPI.
    • More than $54.4 million in capital works investment, with $22.7m funded by grants.
    • $1.5m in savings and efficiency measures to help manage rising costs, in addition to $2m in ongoing savings achieved in 2025/26.
    • $483,000 in pensioner rebates.
    • Delivers investment in roads, parks, community facilities and essential services across the shire, while acknowledging the cost-of-living pressures many households are facing.

    As a Council delivering services across 21,000 km² – approximately 10% of Victoria – there is an ongoing challenge of efficiently delivering services across a large and dispersed region. Our demographics and geography often require duplication of services to ensure all communities are supported, including multiple service centres, waste transfer stations, libraries and open spaces. This comes at a cost that must be balanced against our commitment to support communities.

    Read our media releases:

  • Community information sessions - 2026-27 Council Budget

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    Please join us to share your feedback and ideas about the Council projects and services that matter most to you to help us shape the Council Budget and plan for future Council projects.

    Bairnsdale Library
    22 Service Street, Bairnsdale
    Wednesday, 11 February 2026
    2:00-4:00pm

    Lakes Entrance Library
    12 Mechanics Street, Lakes Entrance
    Monday, 16 February 2026
    2:00-4:00pm

    Paynesville Library
    55 Esplanade, Paynesville
    Thursday, 19 February 2026
    2:00-4:00pm

    What you can expect at a drop-in session:

    • Council representatives will be available to answer questions.
    • We can take down your feedback for you.
    • If you don't want to complete the full survey, you may like to provide feedback about the Council Budget.
    • What the next steps are for the development of the 2026-27 Council Budget.

    Please join us to share your feedback and ideas about the Council projects and services that matter most to you to help us shape the Council Budget and plan for future Council projects.

    Bairnsdale Library
    22 Service Street, Bairnsdale
    Wednesday, 11 February 2026
    2:00-4:00pm

    Lakes Entrance Library
    12 Mechanics Street, Lakes Entrance
    Monday, 16 February 2026
    2:00-4:00pm

    Paynesville Library
    55 Esplanade, Paynesville
    Thursday, 19 February 2026
    2:00-4:00pm

    What you can expect at a drop-in session:

    • Council representatives will be available to answer questions.
    • We can take down your feedback for you.
    • If you don't want to complete the full survey, you may like to provide feedback about the Council Budget.
    • What the next steps are for the development of the 2026-27 Council Budget.
Page last updated: 25 Jun 2026, 10:59 AM