funding ยท Cabonne Council
Cabonne puts draft budget and long-term plans on 28-day public exhibition
Cabonne Council has endorsed public exhibition of its revised Delivery Program, 2026-27 Operational Plan, Budget, Fees and Charges, and 10-year resourcing strategy, with residents able to comment before adoption.
Cabonne Council has approved a 28-day public exhibition of its key draft planning and budget documents, according to minutes from its 28 April ordinary meeting in Molong.
The exhibition will cover the revised Delivery Program 2025-2029, the Operational Plan 2026-27 including the Budget and Fees and Charges, and the Resourcing Strategy 2026-2036. The minutes state a further report will come back to council after the exhibition period.
The same meeting also endorsed the draft Asset Management Policy for 28 days of public exhibition, along with the draft Rates and Charges Hardship Assistance Strategic Policy and Debt Recovery and Management Strategic Policy.
Council also resolved to begin a formal review of its current rating structure. The review is to consider rating categories, the mix of ad valorem and base rates, and how the rating burden is distributed across ratepayer classes, with findings to return in time to consider a new farming subcategory for the 2027-28 rating year.
In other funding decisions, council approved $8,000 from the 2025-26 Village Enhancement Fund to the Manildra and District Improvement Association, in partnership with Cabonne Council, for a BBQ facility area at Montana Park. It also approved event sponsorships of $3,300 to Arts Council Cabonne for the 2026 Acquisitive Art Prize and $485 to Ultimate Rock Crawling for the Rock Boss 4WD event.
The minutes also show council authorised submission of a $1 million grant application to the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development under the Active Regional Communities Package.
For residents, the immediate next step is the exhibition period, which opens the draft budget, fees, long-term financial planning and related policies to public comment before council makes final decisions.
Key facts from the minutes
- Cabonne Council approved 28-day public exhibition of the revised Delivery Program 2025-2029, Operational Plan 2026-27 including the Budget and Fees and Charges, and Resourcing Strategy 2026-2036.
- A further report is to return to council after the exhibition period.
- Council also endorsed 28-day exhibition of the draft Asset Management Policy.
- Council endorsed 28-day exhibition of the draft Rates and Charges Hardship Assistance Strategic Policy and Debt Recovery and Management Strategic Policy.
- Council resolved to commence a formal review of its current rating structure, including rating categories, ad valorem and base rates, and distribution across ratepayer classes.
- The review findings are to return in time for consideration of a possible new farming subcategory for the 2027-28 rating year.
- Council approved $8,000 for a BBQ facility area at Montana Park in Manildra under the 2025-26 Village Enhancement Fund.
- Council approved event sponsorships of $3,300 to Arts Council Cabonne and $485 to Ultimate Rock Crawling.
Why it matters
- The exhibition gives Cabonne residents a formal chance to review and comment on council priorities, budget settings, fees, asset management and hardship policies before they are adopted, while a rating review could shape how future rate burdens are shared.
Source and method
Source: Cabonne Council ordinary meeting minutes, 28 April 2026.