THE ratepayers of Albury are being called on to stump up $100,000 to bridge a funding shortfall for a new regional cricket hub in Wodonga.
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The Victorian city's mayor Anna Speedie and acting chief executive officer Debra Mudra have written a letter to their Albury counterparts appealing for more money on top of $150,000 already pledged by the NSW council.
"Wodonga Council is seeking consideration from Albury City to fund an additional $100,000," the pair wrote.
"This will take Albury City's financial contribution to $250,000."
"I (sic) acknowledge the short notice but this project provides both Albury and Wodonga cities the opportunity to reflect to our communities the willingness and interest to now engage in a strong cross-border partnership," they wrote.
"It also reflects an integrated planning approach to deliver much-needed regional infrastructure; putting the Two Cities, One Community concept into action."
Wodonga Council is providing $781,969 towards the centre with $600,000 coming from peak cricket bodies.
In a report prepared for Albury Council's meeting on Tuesday night, the city's chief financial officer Justin Finlayson endorses Wodonga's request.
"As this project is one of the initial Two Cities One Community projects, a further contribution to the project has merit and should be supported," he wrote.
Mr Finlayson notes the extra funding has not been included in Albury Council's draft 2019-20 budget and recommends it be allocated from the city's community fund as part of the financial plan.
Albury Council will on Tuesday night vote on its draft budget.
It proposes an overall rate rise of 2.7 per cent, the amount IPART has for its NSW-wide peg.
The average residential rate for 2019-20 will be $1321, reflecting an increase of $27 or 2.1 per cent.
When water and waste management charges are added, the average household rise will be $31.
Business properties will have an average rate hike of 2.2 per cent.
Overall an operating surplus of $15.287 million has been forecast for the 2019-20 budget.
Approximately $58 million in capital works have been flagged in the budget.
That includes $15.4 million to be spent on roads, bridges and footpaths.
Specific projects include $3 million on improving Wagga Road, $2.6 million to upgrade the intersection of Thurgoona and Elizabeth Mitchell drives and $2 million to reconstruct Kerr Road at Thurgoona.
There will be $500,000 each splashed on landscaping at Monument Hill, a new theatre roof on the entertainment centre and an expansion of the emergency management centre.
NSW government money is being combined with council cash for work along the Murray River with makeovers at Albury parks, an extension of the Wagirra Trail and a new look Wonga Wetlands visitor and education centre.
