At the April Horsham Rural City Council meeting, councilors voted in favour of making the draft budget and revenue rating plan available for community comment until June 7, 2021.

Some changes included in the draft budget plan would see an eight per cent discount to the farming sector's rates differential and a reduction of the municipal charge from $274 to $240.

The eight per cent discount was prompted by an increase in farm values of the past 12 months.

Councilor Ian Ross voted against the motion and said there was an "unsustainable burden" of rates on the region's farming community, who were less likely to use the council's services.

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"The thing I am concerned about is the unsustainable burden on the farming community if you continually increase their rate burden when they don't use council services as much," he said.

The draft budget predicted a 3.01 per cent rate rise for the residential sector and a 4.33 per cent rate fall for the commercial sector.

Also included in the draft budget was a $2.1 million allocation toward the Hamilton Street Bridge project.

Councilor Di Bell, with the support of Cr Ross, argued against the inclusion of the footbridge project which failed to find funding at an earlier special council meeting in March.

Councilor Les Power said the inclusion of the footbridge in the draft budget provided an opportunity for the community to have their say about the project.

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"I am asking people to actually have a look at our draft budget and to comment on it," he said.

"I need the community to actually have a say, and for them to have a say we need to put it out there."

The draft budget also included a 27 per cent increase in rural roads and infrastructure spending.

The overall capital works program was valued at $20.3 million and included upgrades to the Horsham Caravan Park, Horsham Aquatic Centre and Horsham Town Hall.

Cr Gulline said she was pleased rural communities would see an increase in infrastructure spending.

"Council endorses the draft 2021-22 Budget because it is financially responsible, fair and equitable and it achieves an urban-rural balance," she said.

"We have seen a year like no other and this budget is aimed at getting us back on track while delivering key projects and infrastructure improvements in the coming financial year."

The draft budget is available on the council's website.

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