Mildura Rural City Council spends $3.1m on COVID-19 financial support

Financial support for Mildura ratepayers and other groups has passed $3 million – and it’s expected to keep growing.

Mildura councillors voted to pursue a maximum rate rise last year.

Mildura Rural City Council says it has already committed more than $3.1 million in COVID-related financial support to the community.

The relief efforts went to ratepayers, businesses and community and sporting groups, and the council said more was expected through 2021.

Deferral of rate payments, waiving of interest and not applying late fees on overdue rates were not included in the figure, meaning the total relief bill is greater still.

The council was asked to detail how the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted its finances.

General manager corporate Chris Parham said it was premature to say what the final impact to the bottom line would be, though it was expected to affect both this and next year’s budget.

Mr Parham said no services were under threat at this stage and the council had maintained delivery of maternal and child health, and aged and disability services.

He said the council made a commitment to making every effort to continue with planned capital works projects, to support jobs for local contractors and suppliers.

The 2020-21 capital works program, which includes the Mildura South Regional Sporting Precinct, was valued at $50.74 million.

Mildura councillors last year controversially voted to pursue the maximum 2 per cent rate rise.

A poll on The Mildura News Facebook page found 94 per cent of respondents did not agree with the decision.

The move was pitched as a way of targeting relief to those that had been hardest hit by the pandemic.

“In recognition of the financial hardship some sectors of our community have faced we’ve introduced several rounds of targeted support to ensure help is at hand for those who need it most,” Mr Parham said.

“This support has included a combination of deferral of rate payments, waiving interest and not applying late fees on overdue rates, waiving various fees and charges for businesses, and a business rate relief or grant program.

“Looking to the year ahead, the big challenge is balancing the need to continue supporting our community’s recovery from COVID-19 and stimulate our local economy, while at the same time working within the constraints of a budget that has seen decreased revenue over the past 12 months, which is anticipated into next year.”

Mr Parham said “ongoing support” from the state and federal governments would be key.

“We will continue to lobby all levels of government in this space,” he said.