Glen Innes Severn Council has confirmed its focus on budget discipline and long-term financial sustainability, following the adoption of its draft Operational Plan and Budget 2026–2027 and Revised Long-Term Financial Plan (2025–2035) for public exhibition at this week’s Extraordinary Meeting.
General Manager Bernard Smith said the draft plans set out Council’s operational priorities and long-term financial settings.
“The Operational Plan and Long-Term Financial Plan provide clear direction for how Council will budget, manage cash and deliver services in a disciplined and sustainable way,” Mr Smith said.
“They focus on strengthening financial management, improving cash outcomes and ensuring Council’s plans are realistic and affordable over the long term. The path to financial sustainability requires strong, sustained effort.”
A key priority within both the draft Operational Plan and Long-Term Financial Plan is strengthening Council’s unrestricted cash position, which improves Council’s ability to operate day to day, manage risk and continue delivering essential services.
Mayor Margot Davis said the plans are an important step in addressing long-standing financial challenges in a transparent and accountable way.
“When this Council was elected, we inherited a difficult financial position which had developed over many years due to structural weaknesses in local government in NSW, and we have been very open with our community about that,” Cr Davis said.
“This Council made a commitment early on to be upfront with our community about where we are, and these plans show how we are working to fix those issues.”
Cr Davis reiterated Council’s objective of achieving a sustainable and balanced financial position, noting that this requires ongoing operational discipline and a clearer understanding of Council’s financial results.
“We are changing that by improving our systems, including our finance systems, and making sure decisions are based on better information and stronger oversight.”
Cr Davis also noted that a significant component of Council’s reported deficit relates to depreciation, a non-cash accounting item reflecting long-term asset obligations rather than short-term cash impacts.
“Depreciation is important, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. What matters day to day is our cash position, and improving that is a key part of restoring financial stability and accountability,” Cr Davis said.
The draft Long-Term Financial Plan guides how Council proposes to manage both cash performance and asset responsibilities in a careful and realistic way.
“This is about doing the hard work properly. It’s about putting discipline into financial management and making decisions that are responsible, affordable and fair to our community,” Cr Davis said.
As part of its broader sustainability strategy, Council has applied for a Special Rate Variation (SRV) to help stabilise finances and support essential services into the future. The draft Long-Term Financial Plan assumes approval of the SRV, which would result in an increase of 21.5 per cent in 2026–27.
“The SRV is one part of a broader reform program,” Cr Davis said.
“It’s about long-term sustainability and fairness, and making sure we don’t continue pushing today’s problems onto future councils and future ratepayers.”
Council also confirmed that the majority of proposed capital works are planned to be delivered through external grant funding, allowing local rate revenue to be directed towards essential services and day-to-day operations.
Mr Smith said achieving long-term sustainability requires sustained effort and discipline.
“This isn’t quick or easy work. But disciplined budgeting, improving cash outcomes, securing grant funding for capital projects and strengthening systems are all critical to putting Council on a more stable footing,” Mr Smith said.
“We need to continue to meet the intent of our services but, in doing so, we need to be disciplined in our approach, challenge everything we do, and operate in a climate of austerity.”
Council acknowledged that progress will take time but reinforced that transparency, accountability and long-term planning are central to building a sustainable and resilient organisation.
To view the draft plans and to have your say, visit Council’s Have Your Say portal at: https://haveyoursay.gisc.nsw.gov.au/
Media Release: Glen Innes Severn Council
