"We are listening": $100 pensioner rebate and $58 million capital works in Knox's draft budget

Pensioners would receive a $100 rebate, and more than $1 million would be spent upgrading playgrounds in Ferntree Gully and Bayswater, under Knox Council’s draft 2025/26 budget.

At the council meeting on Monday councillors approved the $122.4 million draft budget to go out for public consultation.

The budget outlined a three per cent rate increase in line with the State Government’s rate cap and a four per cent increase in charges.

Councillor Susan Pearce was the only councillor who did not vote for the motion, instead abstaining from the vote.

Speaking during the meeting, deputy mayor, Glen Atwell, said most of the budget came from the previous council.

“The first budget for any new council is something of a transitional budget,” he said. “Just as we will start work in a couple of months on our budget for next year, the previous council - before the elections in October and November last year - started work on this budget.”

💰 Where is the money going?

Councillor Atwell said the main features of the budget included:

• $100 pensioner rebate;

• $58 million in capital works, including $10 million on renewing and improving local roads, bridges and road infrastructure; $9.2 million to improve sporting pavilions; $4.8 million to improve footpaths and cycling paths; $4.7 million to improve the condition of buildings and early years facilities and community halls; and $1.3 million to renew local playgrounds in Ferntree Gully and Bayswater.

“It strikes the balance between keeping our rates and charges as low as possible while ensuring we continue to deliver the community facilities and services that our residents demand,” Atwell said.

Challenging times ahead

Councillor Robert Williams told the chamber the new council would engage in more community consultation for the 2026/27 budget than the previous council did for the 2025/26 budget.

Consultations are likely to start in July.

“We are listening, we are hearing and we can always do better,” Williams said.

Councillor Peter Lockwood told the meeting he had a number of concerns about the budget, including the decision to sell property as a means of creating additional income.

“Looking at the long-term plan, our staff costs keep going up,” he said. “We’re going to be challenged to keep doing that.”

📢 How can you have your say?

Residents wishing to comment on the draft budget can visit the Have Your Say website, phone the Community Engagement team on (03) 9298 8000, email [email protected] or visit the Customer Service Desk at the Knox Civic Centre. 

All questions and feedback received will be provided to councillors for consideration prior to a meeting on Monday June 23, when the budget is scheduled to be adopted.