The Lismore City Council Councillors adopted the 2021/22 Draft Budget and Operational Plan at last nights extraordinary council meeting, however, it was with amendments that increased the budget's cashflow deficit to $417,000.

Initially, the deficit was $206,800 but seven items were added to the suggested staff budget with some having no impact on the budget:

1. $46,200 in additional funds to make the Nimbin Tourist Information Centre full time at 5-days per week rather than the allocated 2-days.
2. $50,000 to fund the development of a climate resilience strategy ($25,000 taken from the existing Cycleway Strategy and the Open Spaces Strategy).
3. A reduction in income of $153,000 for compliance levies (a State Government cause that may be reduced).
4. $5,100 for RTRL.
5. $5,900 Richmond Valey Council for Emergency Services Levy contribution to Rural Fire Services.
6. $245,700 Roads to Recovery annual allocations (no additional impact on this budget)
7. $0 as discussions to be held with the Nimbin Chamber of Commerce in relation to the installation of stairs in the vicinity of 54 Cullen Street.

You have to give the Nimbin Chamber of Commerce credit as President Diana Roberts laid out a case in March for a full-time Visitor Information Centre employee being funded through the community sector (Nimbin Bush Theatre) plus a grant of $117,000 to the Chamber of Tourism Services. The cost to LCC was "a very minor set-up cost".

The Nimbin Chamber of Commerce ended up with an LCC full-time employee that will spend 2-days a week in Nimbin. The selected person will be in consultation with the Nimbin Chamber to ensure the person is local or connected to the Nimbin area.

Ms Roberts also unloaded on council staff and councillors saying the Nimbin Chamber of Commerce submissions were not acknowledged or commented on while she has not seen some councillors since they were elected nearly five years ago.

While the budget was adopted with the amendments, the clear warning for LCC's long term financial position remains ominous.

General manager Michael Donnelly said, "the cash position is decreasing relatively fast." This he highlighted when pointing to a table that showed the General Fund had decreased from $40.341 million in 2020 to a forecast $33.133 million in 2021 to a planned $26.115 million in 2022.

There is a question mark over two items that may further adversely affect the budget through the sale of assets worth $2 million and $4 million from the State Government for the disposal of waste material. These two items are not confirmed.

While on the subject of State Government, all councillors who spoke (Elly Bird, Adam Guise, Neil Marks and Eddie Lloyd) spoke, once again, about State Government cost-shifting. The list includes a revaluation of transport assets, fire services levy, crown land management, libraries that are underfunded and the waste levy.

The more that costs are added to local councils the more the burden falls to councils to try and raise rates and charges to balance the budget and as we know the options for councils to raise revenue is to sell assets, raise rates or reduce services and staff or look to future growth through more ratepayers.

Councillor Bill Moorhouse raised his concerns over the condition of our roads. "Our roads are falling apart faster than you can poke a stick at, you need a lot of sticks to fill up our roads." Unfortunately, Cnr Moorhouse was told that the road problems will not solved in the next twelve months. Council does have meetings with Paul Tool Minister for Local Roads but that sounds like a long shot.

With loss-making assets like GSAC and the Airport, this budget is all about getting through the next year. There is no magic wand or crystal ball to show the way forward.

With council elections happening in September it will be interesting to hear and read what vision the candidates can show for the future of Lismore & surrounds.