Council continues to make prudent budget decisions during COVID-19

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Mornington Peninsula Shire continues to monitor and make prudent budgetary decisions in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Cr Sam Hearn said we are committed to leading from the top in managing the financial challenges of this crisis.

“We are cutting costs and ensuring that every dollar the community entrusts us with is invested in helping the Peninsula bounce back from COVID-19 and providing the essential services our community needs”.

“I’m personally committing to a 20% reduction in my allowance for next financial year and our CEO has initiated a substantial reduction in his own wage”.

Council has already implemented a number of initiatives to assist the community and to reduce expenditure.

These include a business support package that has already put half a million dollars back into the business community, a Business Concierge Service, ‘Supporting Local Business’ campaign, fast tracking of approvals and compliance matters, temporary cessation of fees and charges, support for local contractors and rate and rent relief options for those in Council properties.

Council also moved quickly to look after its vulnerable and isolated citizens by implemented a ‘Caring for our Community’ initiative that has seen over 2,000 care packages of food and essential items delivered throughout our community.

Other measures include a 1.4 million dollar saving by not filling vacant staff positions and a 1.7 million dollar saving through the reduction in materials and services expenditure.

Council also continues to advocate to State and Federal departments for financial support and further relief options.

Financial modelling and scenario analysis for the 20/21 budget is being undertaken while the draft budget is on public exhibition. The exhibition period has been extended to 21 May to give the community more time to review and provide comment, and to give council officers more time to assess the economic impacts we are seeing from COVID-19.

Early modelling suggests non-rate income could be affected in the vicinity of $6 – $12 million depending on the duration of the crisis.

/Public Release. View in full here.