Job losses at Dubbo City Council have not been ruled out by a councillor once the result of a financial sustainability study is known.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Councillors at Monday night’s finance and policy meeting agreed not to ask for a rate rise over and above the cap set by the State Government. A 4 per cent rate rise over the Government cap of 3.2 per cent was knocked back last year.
At the same time, councillors voted for a comprehensive financial sustainability study to examine all council departments.
The study would begin in the new financial year.
Cr Richard Mutton said the study could result in job losses, or could see council simply not increase staff.
“I emphasise could, it could see cutbacks in some services and cutback in jobs,” he said. “It could also mean we don’t increase staff or use natural attrition to cut numbers.
“So if someone leaves we just don’t replace them. Logically we have to look at all those options while doing the financial study.”
However, Cr Mutton denied he was saying job cuts cold be caused if council did not try for a rate rise over the Government cap for 2009/10.
ABC radio yesterday reported that he had linked the two yesterday, but Cr Mutton put that down to a “misunderstanding”.
“We are not increasing rates this year, and I won’t accept any further rate increases for this year,” he said.
Cr Mutton did not rule out taking a different approach to rates next year.
The study - which a council spokeswoman said would “document the condition of council’s infrastructure and finances” - will examine the core business in each department, Cr Mutton said.
The report lists almost 70 projects scheduled over the next four years for Dubbo parks or ovals now deleted after council’s special four per cent rate rise was knocked back last year.
lynton.grace@ruralpress.com