Orange City Council’s draft spending and income plans have been released for the coming financial year, showing a balanced budget while continuing progress on major projects.
Last night’s (6 June) Council meeting decided to put the draft 2025/26 spending and income plans on exhibition for community comment for 28 days.
The exhibition for Integrated Planning and Reporting includes:
- Draft Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035
- Draft Delivery Program 2025-2029 & Operational Plan 2025/2026
- Draft Resourcing Strategy – Draft Asset Management Strategy 2025/2026
- Draft Resourcing Strategy – Draft Long Term Financial Plan 2025/2026
- Draft Resourcing Strategy – Draft Workforce Management Strategy 2025/2026
- Draft Operational Plan – Draft Budget 2025/2026
- Draft Operational Plan – Draft Fees and Charges 2025/2026
- Draft Statement of Revenue Policy 2025/2026
- Draft Asset Management Policy 2025/2026
Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said this suite of documents work together to continue to deliver a high level of service for the Orange community.
“There can be as many community aspirations and needs as there are community members, so these documents are about getting the balance right between ensuring we continue to meet the needs of a growing regional city, delivering the nuts-and-bolts services every day and balancing the books,” Cr Mileto said.
The Council’s sound fiscal management can be seen in a continuing trend of reducing the operating deficit from $2.4 million two years ago, to $555,000 this financial year, to a balanced budget in the financial year ahead.
Despite ongoing global financial uncertainty, the budget projects interest and investment income to grow from $2 million two years ago to $11.2 million this year.
Cr Mileto said the Council’s financial management will continue to face challenges.
“We know that residents and businesses are already facing tough times with their own cost-of-living challenges, but the alternative of not increasing rates would be to rob the community of the projects and services that a viable local council can offer,” Cr Mileto said.
“One serious challenge we are meeting is the decision to limit proposed rate increases to the state government mandated cap of 4 per cent and keep increases in fees and charges for Council services to 4 per cent.”
The NSW Government’s Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has set the maximum allowable rate increase at 4 per cent.
This annual rate cap for Orange means:
- average residential rates & charges will increase by $2.13 per week or $110.59 per
- average business rates & charges will increase by 93 cents per week or $48.46 per year.
It’s worth noting that in the last few months the NSW Valuer General has provided new land values for Orange to be used for rating in 2025/2026 which means that not every rate payer will get a 4 per cent increase – some may pay more, some less depending on their valuation.
“I’d encourage Orange’s older residents to make sure they’re taking advantage of pensioner rebates. Eligible pensioners receive a rebate of $425 off their rates & water accounts co-funded by the NSW Government & Council. Council also provides a further rebate of 5 per cent for rates & water accounts which gives an average total discount of around $550.00 per year,” Cr Mileto said.
Orange City Council’s Finance Committee Chair Cr Steven Peterson said he was pleased the budget was in good shape.
“Despite spending on a number of capital projects next year, it’s a good sign that the bottom line for the Council’s consolidated fund, which includes water and sewer funds as well as the operating fund, has a projected surplus of $4.1 million,” Cr Peterson said.
“That lets us put resources into renewing ageing infrastructure and putting in new equipment that will do the job better. The budget includes plans to spend $1.8 million installing more smart water meters in homes across Orange as well as spend $4.2 million replacing old water mains.”
With this budget, the Council will begin or continue to work on a number of projects including:
- Orange Sporting Precinct $75m*
- Orange Regional Conservatorium $33.5m*
- Road construction $4.5m
- Cycleway construction $100K
- Footpath rehabilitation and construction $640k
- Planning for indoor recreation centre
- Planning for Aquatic Centre expansion
- Planning for future proofing the Orange Regional Airport
(*total spending over a number of years)
In addition, provision has been made for the continued support of Zest Fest and many other events as well as Council’s extensive community support and cultural programs.
The draft budget will be on exhibition for community comment until 4 June. A report about community submissions will be brought to the 20 June council meeting when the budget will be considered.
By visiting the YourSay Orange website Budget 2025 | Your Say Orange Orange residents can:
- leave a comment about any aspect of the budget
- complete a short survey
- find out more about the details of the budget
Draft Community Strategic Plan 2025-2035 (4.93 MB) (PDF)
