Manningham's 2026-27 Budget

Councillors endorsed this year’s Budget and 10 Year Financial Plan key documents at their meeting last night (Tuesday 30 June 2026).

With an operating budget of $164 million and a $69 million capital works program, this budget includes practical measures to support our ratepayers and community during a period of economic uncertainty.

These documents set out how we’ll deliver the priorities in our second year of our Council Plan 2025-2029, while working toward our Community Vision. We’ve allocated:

• $38.8 million for a resilient environment
• $34.8 million for a well governed and innovative Council
• $26.2 million for liveable places and spaces
• $24.4 million for a safe and healthy community
• $3.7 million for a thriving economy.

We’ve also kept rates in line with the state government’s mandated rate cap of 2.75%, frozen the waste component of the waste services charge, and will continue to assist ratepayers who are experiencing financial hardship.

We want to sincerely thank everyone who provided their feedback on what they would like included. We’ve worked hard to deliver in the areas that are important to you.

You can view these documents in the document library to the right, or on our website manningham.vic.gov.au/budget.

From September to November last year, our community told us where they’d like to see spending prioritised.

We heard from more than 140 people, including 6 residents who shared their project and service ideas directly with councillors during in-person pitches in December 2025.

You told us you’d like to see investment focused on 5 key areas including:

• maintaining and cleaning public spaces
• sporting facilities (such as courts, ovals, fields, and pavilions)
• parks, reserves, and other open spaces
• local roads
• and community safety.

This feedback has helped shape our proposed 2026-27 Budget and 10‑Year Financial Plan, which will be considered by Council for endorsement on Tuesday 30 June 2026.

We’re proposing spending where it matters most

With global events and the rising cost of living putting pressure on many of our ratepayers, we know that every cent counts.

This budget includes practical measures to support our community while continuing to deliver our vital services in an environment of economic uncertainty.

We’ve kept rates in line with the Victorian government’s mandated rate cap, frozen the waste component of the waste service charge, and maintained assistance for ratepayers experiencing financial hardship.

We have continued to carefully manage spending, and as a result have been able to do this while remaining debt-free.

You can view the documents in the document library on this page.

Thank you to everyone who shared ideas for the 2026-27 Budget and 10-Year financial Plan through our survey from September to November 2025.

More than 140 people provided feedback to help shape our financial priorities for the year ahead. This included community members who pitched project and service ideas directly to Councillors in early December.

Your responses will guide the draft 2026-27 Budget and 10-Year Financial Plan, which will be available for public viewing in mid-2026.

The final 2026-27 Budget and 10-Year Financial Plan will then be considered for endorsement at the Council Meeting on Tuesday 23 June 2026.

We’re inviting community members to contribute their insights and ideas to help shape our draft 2026-27 Budget and draft 10-Year Financial Plan.

Manningham Mayor, Councillor Deirdre Diamante said: “We’re committed to ensuring the annual budget prioritises what matters most to our community, while delivering on our mission to be a financially sustainable council.

“Our council delivers more than 100 services across a diverse range of areas, from waste collection and libraries to community programs and infrastructure,” Cr Diamante said.

“These services all play an important role in our community and we want to understand which areas our community sees as most important for us to prioritise spending,” she said.

You can also register your interest to pitch your budget ideas to Councillors at an in-person meeting in early December.

“We want to hear from you about the projects and services you would like to see delivered in Manningham, now and in the future. Your ideas, passion and local knowledge are at the heart of what makes our community thrive,” Cr Diamante said.

Shortlisted in-person submitters will have 3 minutes each to present to Councillors at a meeting on Monday 1 December at the Manningham Council Chamber.

If you would prefer not to pitch your idea in person, your ideas will still be considered as part of the broader engagement process.

Have your say

You can share your insights, ideas and register your interest to present to Council by completing our short survey by 9 November 2025.

Your responses will help shape the draft 2026-27 Budget and draft 10-Year Financial Plan.

The final 2026-27 Budget and 10-Year Financial Plan will be considered for endorsement at the Council Meeting on Tuesday 23 June 2026.

Some ideas may be better suited to our Manningham Community Grant program, which supports eligible organisations to deliver community-focused projects.

Learn more about the grants program and other ways to get involved.