WODONGA Council appears to have got itself into a difficult situation over the city’s proposed urban square art work.
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The proposal to spend up to $1 million on an iconic piece has been part of the council’s deliberations ahead of drafting the city’s 2015-16 budget.
Funding for the art work wasn’t allocated in Wodonga’s 2014-15 budget and the council must take on board ratepayers’ objections to the major expenditure, including a council contribution of $600,000 towards the project.
The council’s plans for the art work drew ire from those who went on to re-form the Wodonga Ratepayers’ Association under the presidency of former mayor and councillor, Ian Deegan, in mid-February, arguing any money the council may have committed to the project should be used to pay down the city’s debt.
Wodonga and other Victorian councils are also under pressure over the expenditure of ratepayers’ funds with the introduction of rate capping by the Victorian government next year.
The council now has almost 30 expressions of interest from those interested in creating the art work, but at the same time there is no final decision yet as to whether it will go ahead.