Albury Council has significantly increased its response to the coronavirus pandemic on Monday night.
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Cr Darren Cameron won support for the hardship package to jump from $750,000 to $3 million, but it included a trade-off to wipe the $40 domestic waste charge decrease for all ratepayers estimated to cost $1 million..
However, Cr Henk van de Ven successfully argued the $40 charge decrease be retained to offset the across the board impact of council imposing a 2.6 per cent rate increase.
"I'm happy to put the $3 million in, but I'm not happy with $40 per property taken out," Cr van de Ven said.
"It was a fair offset to each ratepayer in this city.
"The $3 million relief fund is only going to be available to those people who apply.
"I can't see 24,019 ratepayers applying and if they did we would be in a heap of trouble."
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Cr Cameron's initial amendment was subject to eligibility criteria including being applicable to rating period from April 1 to October 31 this year and be open to all affected ratepayers unable to pay amounts due after the six-month interest free deferral period.
Also, a statutory declaration will be required demonstrating a reduction of 30 per cent of income in the six-month period starting April 1 as a direct result of the COVID19 emergency and other assistance accessed for the period.
Residential ratepayers can only apply for an amount of 50 per cent of the total rates payable for the nominated six-month _ an increase of 20 per cent from what staff initially recommended.
"This is a once in a lifetime event, I hope, and requires an extraordinary level of commitment," Cr Cameron said.
"It may be that we don't expend $3 million.
"It is a net $2 million more commitment than the report, but I believe we have the capacity to withstand such a large amount.
"Given the nature of this event we need to do it."
In response to Cr van de Ven's push for the waste charge cut, Cr Cameron said: "I'm reluctant to accept it because it will add $1 million to the cost of this exercise, but pragmatism dictates that if I do it will succeed".
