Council asks for community feedback on draft budget

Published on 17 May 2023

Lismore residents and ratepayers are encouraged to provide feedback on Lismore City Council’s Draft 2023/27 Delivery Program and Draft Operational Plan 2023/24, as well as supporting financial documents.

Lismore City Councillors last night voted to place the documents on Public Exhibition until 15 June when they will come back to the June Council meeting for adoption. They can be found at the Your Say Lismore tab on Council’s website www.lismore.nsw.gov.au

The Program and Plan sets out the projects, services and activities Council will provide to the community, how much they will cost and when they will be delivered.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said Council was determined to develop a balanced budget, despite the high level of uncertainty caused by rapidly rising costs and high interest rates.

“I’m happy that we have delivered a budget with a slight net cash surplus of $205,000,” he said.

“Councillors are very aware that our community is doing it tough, particularly as we continue to recover from the worst natural disaster in Australia’s recorded history.

“That is why we have purposefully kept any rises in rates, fees or charges below the rate of inflation of 7.8 per cent.

“And importantly, we now also have a viable four-year plan and a Long-Term Financial Plan. I am optimistic that if we are disciplined and stick to these plans, we will finally be on the path to financial sustainability.”

After no increases in rates and fees last year, residential and business rates will rise in line with the State Government’s rate peg of 3.7 per cent, with fees rising by 5 per cent.

One of the issues Councillors faced when developing the budget was the high cost of shipping our current waste to Queensland due to the extensive damage to the city’s landfill waste cell caused by the February 2022 natural disaster.

This has led to a new $65 waste levy per household. However, this has been fully offset by Council’s decision not to collect the $65 waste minimisation levy.

Next financial year, Council will invest $235 millon in capital works, including $136 million on roads and bridges.