Annual Community Plan 2025/26 and Long Term Financial Plan 2025–35

A Fresh Approach to the Annual Community Plan

We're excited to introduce the Draft Annual Community Plan 2025/26 (ACP), with a refreshed name to reflect our renewed commitment to aligning our plans with the needs of the people who call this community home.

This year, we're hosting four public meetings where you'll have the chance to explore our Draft Annual Community Plan 2025/26 and the updated Draft Long Term Financial Plan 2025–2035. These plans have been shaped with one key focus—ensuring financial stability while continuing to support our growing community.

Over the past six months, Council has worked hard to strengthen our financial position, cutting unnecessary costs while keeping essential services intact. Our revised financial strategy aims to ease cost-of-living pressures by responsibly managing resources for long-term sustainability.

Here's what we’re aiming to achieve:

• Reducing the financial sustainability factor from 11% to 3.4% within four years—without affecting existing services or delaying crucial asset renewals.
• Returning to a budget surplus by 2027/28, with strong ongoing surpluses projected beyond that.
• Lowering borrowings to $6.7 million by 2035.

We’re committed to prudent financial management in 2025/26, ensuring we provide for our growing community while maintaining a responsible approach to spending. The proposed rate increase of 3.05% includes the March Adelaide CPI of 2.2% plus an additional 0.85% to support financial sustainability.

Despite keeping spending in check, we’re still investing in key community projects across the Alexandrina Council area. These projects are carefully selected to ensure they bring real value to residents while staying within budget.

Importantly, the latest updates to our financial plans address concerns raised by the Essential Services Commission of South Australia (ESCOSA) in its recent financial sustainability report.

We invite you to review the draft plans, share your thoughts, and be part of this journey towards a stronger financial future. Your feedback matters, and together, we can shape a community that thrives.