Alpine Shire Council is inviting community members across Alpine Shire to help shape the development of their draft 2026/27 Budget.
The 2026/27 Budget follows on from extensive community engagement undertaken as part of the development of Council's Community Vision and Council Plan 2025-2029, key strategic documents adopted by Council in September 2025.
This engagement led to the development of an associated Action Plan 2025-2029, which outlines the priority projects and initiatives identified for action over the next four years.
The 2026/27 Budget will also align with the resolution of Council at the October Ordinary Council Meeting directing the CEO to identify $1.5 million in ongoing annual savings for the 2026/27 financial year.
This resolution aims to ensure the organisation is in a financial position to maintain essential services, fund priority projects identified in strategic documents, and protect the financial health of Alpine Shire Council into the future.
Council currently manages an annual budget of approximately $39 million, with the majority of this funding committed to essential and legislated services.
In the 2026/27 Budget, Council has approximately $1 million available to allocate to other community priorities.
Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas, said that this engagement opportunity will focus on the projects and initiatives that might have been overlooked as part of the engagement processes for the Community Vision and Council Plan 2025-2029.
"We are confident that we have captured key priorities from community members across Alpine Shire in our Action Plan 2025-2029," she said.
"But we also want to give every person the opportunity to tell us their priorities for our shire.
"While our resources are limited, what you tell us now will shape and influence what we do in the future.
"So let's work together to make the best use of every dollar and create an Alpine Shire that reflects our vision for our communities."
Community members are invited to have their say by completing a short survey identifying their priorities for the 2026/27 Budget.
Submissions will close at 5pm on Monday, 19 January 2026.
Community members can have their say online by visiting Engage Alpine: Budget 2026/27 | Engage Alpine
Council's Community Vision, Council Plan 2025-2029, and associated Action Plan 2025-2029 can be viewed online on Council's website: https://www.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/about-us/our-organisation/corporate-plans-reports