Public Notice: Understanding How Your Shire is Funded

Published on Friday, 31 October 2025 at 12:01:54 PM

The Local Government Grants Commission is holding a public hearing in the Shire to explain the formula behind your local services and infrastructure funding.

The Financial Assistance Grant (FA Grant) is one of the largest revenue streams local governments receive. It's the essential money used to maintain our local roads, support community services, and keep the Shire running.

To ensure transparency and a clear understanding of how this critical funding is calculated, the Local Government Grants Commission will be visiting our Shire to present their methodology and answer questions.

Hearing Details

• What: Public Hearing on Financial Assistance Grants (FA Grants) Methodology and Balanced Budget Calculation
• When: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
• Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (The hearing is expected to take approximately 2 hours)
• Where: Chambers, 1 Steere street Bridgetown
• Purpose: To explain the financial model used to allocate untied Commonwealth funding to local governments.

What to Expect

The hearing is structured around the Commission's presentation but remains relatively informal, allowing for open discussion.

This meeting is a crucial opportunity for the Shire to engage directly with the Commission. Key discussion points will include:

• Grant Calculation: A detailed overview of how the Commission calculates the General Purpose Grant (GPG) and the Local Roads Funding.
• Shire Context: The opportunity for the Shire to inform the Commission of any current developments or challenges faced locally. This essential feedback helps the Commission understand our unique circumstances, which can influence future grant considerations.
• Q&A Session: Time for the Shire to ask direct questions about the grant methodology.

Why This Matters to the Community

Understanding the FA Grant methodology helps the community understand the financial constraints and opportunities facing the local government. This untied funding is flexible and allocated based on the principle of horizontal equalisation - ensuring all local governments can provide a similar standard of services.