Wodonga Council's response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ease the burden on ratepayers, businesses and sporting groups facing financial hardship has fallen well short of expectations, according to the city's ratepayers association chief.
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The council announced on Tuesday ratepayers who paid quarterly instalments would have the due date for the remaining payment this financial year extended to June 30.
Also, interest will not be charged for overdue rates or other payments through to June 30 and debt recovery will also be place on hold until the end of the financial year.
In relation to businesses and sporting groups, the council has committed to paying all suppliers as quickly as possible, dropping seasonal licence agreements while no sport is being played and foregoing maintenance for a quarter for all sporting club leases.
"They have done absolutely nothing really," he said.
"People are waiting for the government money to come through, but it's not going to be anything like they've been living on.
"Whatever concessions the federal and state government are making are for six months.
"All Wodonga is doing is giving you a one month freeze on your interest. Whooppee do."
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Wodonga Council chief executive Mark Dixon said financial hardship options were available.
"It remains important that we take the time to fully understand the range of federal and state support packages being made available, on a daily basis, and our staff are available to assist local businesses accessing these," he said.
"The council is presently working on the draft budget for 2020-21 and is exploring all options in terms of the support that can be provided to our community in the next financial year."
Mr Bounader said sporting clubs had also been short-changed as they fight against cash-flow evaporating due to no revenue from gate-takings, social functions and reduced sponsorship income in many instances.
"They are saying here we're cutting back on maintenance, but we are going into the winter time and grass is not going to grow so much and won't need to be cut as much when things hopefully start," he said.
"There is no way those councillors will get re-elected if they wanted to apply charges to sporting bodies in the present environment.
"I'm also surprised an announcement hasn't been made by the state government to say they are going to extend the council terms for another 12 months."
Some Albury councillors are flagging a six-month rate freeze.
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