Residents can now expect a 8.9% base rates increase for the upcoming year, the lowest of the options presented but still reliant on debt to fund operational costs.
Councillors found $550,000 in savings during deliberations. It would be used to pay down debt.
The decision, however, drew criticism from some, including Mayor Ben Bell, who believes the council missed a crucial opportunity.
"It could be significantly lower. The number I had was 6.1%," Mr Bell said.
"I agree with the work we’ve done with asset sales - it’s a great way to bring debt down - but there’s work to be done. I won’t be supporting this. I think we could have gotten it a lot lower."
The budget review saw cuts across multiple areas. A $150,000 reduction to the maintenance budget passed despite opposition from deputy mayor Keith Hovell and Councillor Neville Phillips. Mr Hovell warned the move could jeopardise the longevity of council-owned assets.
"If we keep deferring maintenance on these genuine assets, we get ourselves into some serious trouble," he said.
Another contentious issue was recycling. Though not required by law until 2027, Mr Bell urged the council to begin preparations immediately.
"I’m a staunch advocate of recycling. We have to do something by 2027, and I think it’s something we need to do now," he said.
In a rare moment of drama, the council chamber was split evenly on the issue - prompting Mr Bell to cast a deciding vote in favour of starting recycling initiatives in Gore.
The council also voted to cut $400,000 from staff budgets. While the reduction will not lead to redundancies, it does limit resources available for addressing staff remuneration issues. Mr Hovell praised the performance of council employees and voted against the cut.
"In terms of efficiency, staff don’t do just a single job. They multitask. We’re at the top of the country when it comes to budget efficiency," he said.
The council will continue to support local events but has agreed to review how grants are awarded to external organisers. Councillor John Gardyne supported the continuation of community events but suggested some should become more financially independent.
To help balance the budget and offset debt, the council also approved asset sales totalling $500,000. That revenue will go directly toward reducing operational debt in the first year and potentially dropping rates a further 1%.
