2025/26 Long Term Financial Plan and Annual Business Plan

The 2025/26 Long Term Financial Plan and Annual Business Plan (LTFP & ABP) and budget was adopted by Council on Monday 23 June 2025. The budget delivers an operating surplus to ensure our financial position is sustainable and equitable between generations of ratepayers and builds capacity for the future. The 2025/26 budget delivers an operating surplus of $3.886M; gross infrastructure investment of $70.3M (including $37.6M of asset renewal) with a net cost of $50.8M considering grants and other contributions; moderate and sustainable levels of debt, with net financial liabilities of $95.9M or 56.5% of total operating revenue; and an average rate increase of 4.2% on all properties.

Purpose

The LTFP & ABP details Council’s services, including new services and projects, together with their financial impacts. It provides comprehensive information so that the community can consider the budget and how it aligns to the City Plan 2040. An Executive Summary provides a snapshot of the LTFP & ABP and gives guidance as to where more information is available.

Average Rate Increase

The 2025/26 average rate increase is 4.2% for residential properties and commercial and industrial properties. Over the life of the long term financial plan rates growth from the increase in the number of assessments is anticipated at 0.50%, while increased rates revenue from other development, activity is estimated to be 0.50%. Over the long-term average rates are planned to increase by CPI+0.6%. Further information about rates is contained in the Rating Strategy and Policy on pages 124 to 127 and at Appendix B – Uniform Presentation of Rates Revenue.

Operating Surplus

This year, Council will deliver an Operating Surplus of $3.886M reflecting a 2.3% Operating Surplus Ratio. Further information is available in the Budgeted Financial Statements and Analysis on pages 58 to 62.

Financial Sustainability

Being financially sustainable means having:

• The ability to have consistent services into the future

• Infrastructure, like roads, continuing to be maintained at an appropriate level

• Current ratepayers pay the costs associated with the services consumed

• New infrastructure provided to meet community expectations, balanced against increases in costs

We measure financial sustainability through three indicators. The Long Term Financial Plan (pages 24 to 32) shows that Council is budgeting and planning to be sustainable over the coming 10 year period.

• Road Renewal $10.6 million
• Buildings $4.4 million
• Playgrounds $2.5 million
• Salisbury Water $1.6 million
• Sport lighting $1.4 million
• Watercourse management $0.8 million

Council continues to invest in community assets for the future and to increase service delivery in several areas.

The 2025/26 LTFP & ABP incorporates large-scale initiatives including:

Sport & Recreation investment of $5.6 million which includes the installation of Bike Pump Tracks at various locations across the city, Playspace improvements at Carlyle Reserve, Pooraka, a basketball/netball half-court at Coogee Reserve, Paralowie, new clubroom facilities at Para Hills Oval, additional shade at the Mawson Lakes Dog Park, installation or upgrades of playspaces and upgrades of reserves at Little Para Linear Park (lower) Mario Drive and Metala Reserve, Paralowie, and Laurence’s Green at Parafield Gardens, and continuing work on the Bicycle Network and City Wide Trails

Investment of $2.1 million in the Streetscapes & Landscapes planting program, focused on improving the amenity of the city by progressively renewing existing street trees, feature landscapes renewal at high profile and destination locations and updates of landscaped major entry points to the city.

Upgrading the sports playing surface at Manor Farm, Salisbury East inclusive of new sportsfield turf, irrigation and drainage works at a cost of $0.8 million.

Traffic & Pedestrian Infrastructure funding of $1.2 million towards minor and major traffic and pedestrian infrastructure improvements including School Zones, Pedestrian Crossings, Footpaths and Kerb Ramps. Also proposed are pedestrian and traffic improvements and Salisbury North Oval.

Council further increases the pool of grant funds and individual grant amounts available (upon application) to clubs and sporting facilities for clubs to initiate minor improvements to buildings, facilities and equipment.

To discover more about the plans and initiatives of the City of Salisbury please download the 2025/26 Long Term Financial Plan and Annual Business Plan.

Service Provision

The budget delivers an operating surplus to ensure Council’s financial position is sustainable and equitable between generations of ratepayers and builds capacity for the future. The 2025/26 budget delivers:

• An operating surplus of $3.886M
• Gross infrastructure investment of $70.3M (including $37.6M of asset renewal) and a net cost of $50.8M including grants.
• Moderate and sustainable levels of debt, with net financial liabilities of $95.9M or 56.5% of total operating revenue.

More information about Council’s services can be found on pages 67 to 123 of the document.

Projects and Additional Services

All of Council’s projects and additional services (Budget Bids) are detailed in the LTFP & ABP by category of spending and details can be found on pages 39 to 57.

Funds of $37.6M are provided for asset updates / renewal in line with our Asset Management Plans, with significant items including:

Download the 2025/26 Long Term Financial Plan and Annual Business Plan