THE impact of coronavirus on Albury Council's airport is set to contribute to the city having a $3.3 million revenue black hole this financial year.
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The city's deputy chief executive for business, growth and community Tracey Squire initially flagged a revenue drop of $2.5 million to Monday night's public council briefing session before adding to it.
"Given the significant decrease that we've seen in passenger numbers coming through the airport, particularly over the last week, I would expect that that will worsen, potentially up to the tune of about $3.3 million," Ms Squire said.
"We are still reviewing those figures and obviously it's a really dynamic environment, it's changing on a regular basis."
Indeed shortly after Ms Squire spoke on Monday night, Regional Express issued a media release with proposed cuts for Albury services.
It is now planning only three returned services per week, two to Melbourne on Mondays and Fridays and one to Sydney on Mondays.
The schedule is subject to federal government funding.
Ms Squire also flagged relief measures being provided by the council and proposed aid.
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This included the impact of rate changes for the 2020-21 financial year.
If the existing rate cap of 2.6 per cent was adopted, there would be a $1.1 million increase in rates revenue and a $45 rise per property.
If there was a two per cent lift, revenue would be $850,000 and a $35 impost would apply for ratepayers.
For a one per cent increase, the council's revenue would tally $420,000 and it would cost $17 per property.
A rate freeze would see the city forego $1.1 million extra revenue.
Ms Squire noted that it would be a challenge for the council to recover that money over the long term.
"There is an ongoing opportunity cost to the budget which would be cumulative and increase year-on-year if council ultimately made the decision that it didn't want to apply the rate peg or applied a reduced rate," she said.
"If it wasn't applied...now, or over the next two years...the ten-year financial impact would be in the order of $12 million and importantly this could reduce our ability to fund stimulus and deliver services in future years.
"Certainly what we are seeing is that whilst there a lot of people in the community that are affected, not everybody is affected."
Other proposed relief options were also put up by Ms Squire.
These included no increases in charges for domestic water, water and wastewater and the waste management centre.
It was also suggested lease and licence fees for community and sporting groups be waived and no chair fee be applied for outdoor dining.
The city raises $75,000 yearly from al fresco eating, with around 980 chairs spread across 65 businesses.
Councillor Darren Cameron said he viewed coronavirus as a once-in-a-lifetime event which required the budget to be altered in a "very significant way".
A draft version will be presented to the council's meeting on April 27, with the final budget due to be adopted on June 22.