FAQ

The purpose of a long-term financial plan is to express in financial terms the activities that the Council proposes to undertake over the medium to longer term to achieve its stated objectives. 

It is similar to, but less detailed than the Annual Budget and helps guide Council’s future actions depending on the longer-term revenue and expenditure assumptions. It provides guidance and as such Council is not bound by the assumptions included within it.

• The Operating Result - Revenue received and expenditure incurred by Council in the course of its normal operating (non-capital) activities. The Operating income received by Council includes items such as rates, user charges, specific operating grant revenue, and expenditure salaries and wages, utility and administrative costs.
  
  
• The Capital Expenditure/Revenue – Is the amount of money Council will invest in the creation of new assets or the renewal/upgrade of our current assets. Associated revenue can include grant revenue supporting the delivery of capital projects or developer contributions. 

Council requires an operating surplus, so that it can not only fund day-to-day operations and services for the community, but also fund the repayment of debt associated with planned Major Capital projects.

A Long Term Financial Plan must legislatively be updated every 5 years. Mount Barker District Council has decided to update its Long Term Financial Plan annually.

• Council Member Engagement - People can contact their Council Member who can forward any priorities at sessions held throughout the year for the Long Term Financial Plan and Annual Business Plan and Budget or alternatively directly to Council at any point during the year to council@mountbarker.sa.gov.au.
  
  
• Long Term Financial Plan - People can also provide inputs and suggestions as part of this public consultation process for the Long Term Financial Plan.