MILDURA Council has resisted a temptation to use unspent COVID-19 relief and recovery money to offset a 2020-21 budget deficit of $1.2 million.
The council this week endorsed a proposal to consider using more than $500,000 on further community projects when deliberating on its 2021-22 budget.
Councillors were this week told about $533,000 of a $1.5 million COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Fund set aside for those experiencing hardship or to support economic and social recovery remained unallocated, and were recommended to return the funds to general revenue to improve this year’s anticipated budget deficit.
However, Cr Liam Wood moved an alternative motion that the council use the funds to help stimulate the local economy as the community continued to deal with COVID-related issues.
Cr Wood nominated the CBD Plan Activation, Tourism Directional Signage Strategy, Mildura Arts Centre Online programs, Riverfront placemaking, COVID-19 funding for the Red Cliffs centenary and an allocation to COVID-19 response and rebuilding as projects worthy of consideration.
“It is imperative that the Mildura Rural City Council region know that during this terribly stressful time, both emotionally and economically for many community members, that the council has their back,” he said.
“Most importantly, our community members’ wellbeing must be at the forefront of all our conversations moving forward.
“Council has done very well to offer COVID relief for many local businesses over the past year while maintaining a strong economic bottom line itself.
“As we have seen recently though, the COVID issue is still very real and now is not the time to reduce or end the ability to help our community financially.”
Cr Mark Eckel said the local economy needed immediate stimulation.
“With this money left over, I think we would be doing the community an injustice and ratepayers an injustice not to spend that money and have it generate the economy right now … we don’t need it down the track,” he said.
“We’re doing the right thing by the community by activating this to really stimulate the economy in this region as soon as practicable.”
Cr Jodi Reynolds said the money would not only stimulate the economy, but the nominated projects would benefit the community for years to come.
“We only have to look at what’s happening in Melbourne now, and Bendigo, and I believe Swan Hill, to know that COVID isn’t over — COVID is going to be impacting us for a long time,” she said.
“To get this money spent and get it activated into our community is fantastic.
“Council has done extremely well to find themselves in such a good financial position and also to be able to make sure that this area and our town is well looked after and well provisioned into the future with this particular money — this is money really well spent.”
Councillors agreed to further consider the nominated projects at a special council meeting on June 28, when the council is expected to adopt its 2021-22 budget.
