City of Launceston council’s long term financial plan is “stable”, despite a number of budget changes proposed in the council’s agenda, the general manager Michael Stretton says.
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The agenda for Monday’s meeting states there will be a decreased revenue of more than $1 million, but Mr Stretton said there is no need for panic.
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The changes are related to information the council has received from the auditor general.
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Mr Stretton said the auditor general advised the council works in the capital budget, such as master plans and the planning scheme, were assets that could be capitalised on.
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“They’re saying that’s an operational cost, so it needs to be counted in the operational budget. It just means we’re adjusting the budget to reflect those changes,” he said.
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Quotes received by the council for Riverbend Park were the “most significant” change, Mr Stretton said.
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“They have come in significantly higher than what we estimated, so we’ve had to defer some capital works,” he said.
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When the project was scoped out a number of years ago it was originally estimated to cost $9 million, but was now expected to cost $11.5 million.
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Planned and budgets upgrades to the council building and a number of other projects have been deferred to ensure the park is delivered to the community as promised.
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“There will be a operational deficit, that’s pretty much guaranteed and in terms of the overall, everything taken into account it’s marginal at this point,” Mr Stretton said.
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“We recorded a $3.5 million surplus last year, so if you look in the swings and roundabouts of it, over the long term it will be sustainable.”
YES, YES, but given where we are should ratepayers be looking the other way as it seems the alderpeople may have been! Be aware, be alert, SPINincoming!!
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