A MOTION to revoke the adoption of Grant District Council’s 2018/19 budget was lost at a special meeting of council on Monday night.
Council’s budget was adopted last Wednesday despite a last minute bid by Mayor Richard Sage to halt the process.
Mr Sage said additional cost pressures had not been considered during budget deliberations and warned the general rate income should be higher.
Less than 24 hours after it was adopted, a special meeting was called for elected members to consider revoking all motions passed in regards to adopting the budget.
Cr Julie Reis, who put forward the motion to rescind the budget, said she felt councillors had been “irresponsible” during the formal process.
“We held public consultation and two items were submitted – tertiary education grants and increased funding for the South East Animal Welfare League,” Cr Reis said.
“As elected members, we have a responsibility to at least consider those items.
“We are here to represent the ratepayers and we did not even have a discussion about those public submissions and they were not included in the budget.
“Not to consider the contents of the budget comprehensively is inappropriate and irresponsible.”
Mayor Sage said he was disappointed the council had only held two budget workshops this year.
“Previously we have held four budget workshops – there were a lot of items we did not discuss during the process and this could be an opportunity to resolve these things,” he said.
“We need to spend money to future proof the sale yards if it will become the selling powerhouse we want it to be.
“Maybe we could consider a war chest for a phone tower for connectivity and online sales.
“We also need to have discussion around whether we should be altering our business plan given we could soon face rate capping.”
But Cr Alan Hill argued Mr Sage had “every opportunity” to raise these issues before the “last 30 seconds” of the last budget meeting.
“There is nothing you have mentioned that cannot be considered and dealt with at normal council meetings,” Cr Hill said.
“You are not supposed to lead council meetings, you are supposed to conduct them and this is, in my opinion, disgraceful.”
Mr Sage countered that many of the items had been mentioned previously or were received in letters before the budget deliberations.
“The way I conduct meetings has been fair and open so I cannot see where you’re coming from, but you’re entitled to your opinion Cr Hill,” he said.
Acting chief executive Graeme Maxwell said council had made no provisions to fund increased waste management costs given China’s waste import ban.
He added it could become more difficult to absorb costs next year.
The motion to rescind the adoption of the 2018/19 budget was voted down and council’s 2.3pc general rate increase for next financial year remains unchanged.
