Cabonne Council faces $21m budget shortfall and service cuts

Cabonne Council is facing a $21 million budget challenge for key services, leading to an ultimatum for residents: accept service cuts or face increased rates. The council has declared current service levels unsustainable due to aging infrastructure and a squeezed financial position.

Key community services under consideration for potential reductions include swimming pools, libraries, childcare, and town maintenance. The council is currently conducting a community priorities survey to determine which services should be prioritized or reduced.

Shire Mayor Kevin Beatty has argued that the financial burden should not fall solely on local ratepayers. He cited a decline in Financial Assistance Grants from federal and state governments, noting they have fallen from approximately one percent of Australia’s GDP to less than 0.6 percent. Beatty attributed the financial pressure to the lasting impacts of COVID-19, rising infrastructure costs, and global economic uncertainty.