We're planning for our city's future.

The Draft 2025/26 – 2034/35 Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) is our guiding document which helps us balance our finances and plan for our city’s future. It looks at future income and expenses to make sure we can continue to provide services and look after our assets (such as roads and buildings) in a sustainable and fair way.

The Draft 2025/26 – 2034/35 Long Term Financial Plan is a ten-year forecast of Council’s finances based on the services we currently deliver, or plan to deliver. It takes into account any social, economic or political influences on Council’s budget and ensures that any significant expenses are shared fairly across generations.

Your feedback on the Draft Long Term Financial Plan will help shape our city's future.

Background

The Long Term Financial Plan (LTFP) is a key strategic management document, reviewed and updated annually. It outlines the financial strategy for the ten-year period from 2025/26 – 2034/35. This LTFP builds on the work undertaken for the 2024–28 Strategic Plan, Infrastructure Asset Management Plans and 2025/26 Business Plan and Budget. It is underpinned by Council’s adopted financial principles, existing Council decisions and the best available economic information.

Provide your feedback!

Join the conversation and help shape our city's future.

How do I provide my feedback?

  • Online

    Provide your feedback to the online survey

    Click here  

  • Email

    Comments and feedback can be sent to ouradelaide@cityofadelaide.com.au

  • Mail your submission to:

    Community Consultation

    Long Term Financial Plan

    GPO Box 2252, Adelaide SA 5001

    All written submissions must be received by 9.00am Wednesday 5 November 2025

  • Meet with a staff member

    Please contact Natalie Johnston,

    Associate Director, Finance & Procurement

    T: (08) 8203 7144

    E: natalie.johnston@cityofadelaide.com.au

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The LTFP maps out and forecasts the Council’s expected expenses and revenues over the next ten years, based on the best currently available information. It therefore guides Council’s decisions in planning investment in long-lasting maintenance and new investment in infrastructure assets, and informs the setting of rates and revenues to cover operational expenses.

The 2025/26 LTFP covers the ten year period from financial year 2025/26 – 2034/35.

As the LTFP considers all major expenses and revenues for the coming ten years, all programs and activities of Council can be influenced in different ways – from determining the scale of debt-funded infrastructure investment; the size and focus of grants programs; the prioritisation of maintenance activity; etc.

Rates are a central part of Council revenues. Council rating levels therefore will reflect decisions made based on the LTFP. The same applies for debt. If the LTFP assumes a certain level of new infrastructure investment, this will impact the amount of debt incurred to fund those investments.

The LTFP considers the current and future needs for maintenance, renewal and new investment, based on the best available information. To ensure the most efficient and effective allocation of finite resources the LTFP is used to help decide what projects are prioritised.

Documents