Lismore council currently has on display its operational plan, and admits its financial position "remains challenging and unsatisfactory".
Catastrophic floods in February/March 2022 have significantly impacted the community and also caused major damage to most of the council's assets.
The cost of that damage is yet to be determined and the council is waiting to hear what support will be available from various Government Agencies before the budget will be amended to reflect these outcomes.
The key focus of the operational plan is: to renew and maintain assets, limit the financial impost on ratepayers, provide economic development, manage costs and refocus spending, and maintain service levels.
The council has delivered a "back-to-basics" budget, which it hopes will achieve all of those goals during the flood recovery.
Currently, the council says its its revenue base is not not matched to its expenditure and is insufficient to maintain its current asset base and to deliver targeted service levels.
The ability to address asset maintenance backlogs and deliver services and activities such as tourism and economic development initiatives are therefore impacted.
Imagine Lismore Draft 2022-2023 Operational Plan including the Revenue Policy and Borrowings and Fees and Charges is on display at Lismore City Council for community's review and feedback. It can also be found on its website.
