Securing our financial future for the years ahead
Rising costs and growing demand for services mean Council must adapt – finding more efficient ways to operate while continuing to meet the expectations of our community.
Our objective is clear: to identify around $20 million in potential operating savings over the next two years and return to a balanced budget by 2027/28. Achieving this will put us in a stronger financial position to keep delivering quality services for our community, without the need to increase rates beyond the standard annual adjustment.
This planning process, which forms part of Council’s broader Service Excellence Program, isn’t unique to AlburyCity - many councils across Australia are reviewing their services and revenue settings in the same way. Like any organisation, it’s a normal part of good management to pause, take stock and make sure we’re operating efficiently, sustainably and in line with what our community values most.
Since August, we’ve been working with Morrison Low Advisory to review our services and identify opportunities to either increase revenue or reduce expenditure.
We’ve identified a wide range of potential opportunities that now need to be assessed for their financial, operational and community impacts. This next stage of work will ensure we fully understand what each option might mean before any decisions are made.
The aim is to have a clearer way forward by early next year, ready for community consultation in January–February through surveys, the Engaging Albury Have Your Say platform and wider community conversations.
Ultimately, this project is about informed, transparent decision-making, ensuring our services remain aligned with community needs while securing our financial future.
We are a major regional hub with a footprint of around 300,000 people and AlburyCity provides services that extend well beyond our local government area - including the Albury Airport, Albury Waste Management Centre and Albury Animal Care Centre.
We need to think strategically about how we can better recover the costs of providing regional services and attract additional funding from users and partners beyond our boundaries. We will also continue to advocate for increased state and federal support through financial assistance grants.
To complement this work, Council has also commissioned an independent audit of our current and future budgets. Conducted by Crowe, a respected leading financial advisory firm with a long term presence in Albury, the audit will review how well our budget aligns with our strategic goals and identify any inefficiencies or risks.
The audit has recently commenced, with findings expected to be presented to Council in February 2026.
Together, these initiatives represent a major step towards a financially sustainable AlburyCity - one that remains responsive, accountable and community-focused.
Frank Zaknich
AlburyCity Chief Executive Officer