The draft 2014-15 management plan will go to council on Wednesday night and again the main interest centres on hikes to fees and charges.

Council decided late last year to adopt the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal's 2.3 per cent cap on residential rate rises, putting increased pressure on other revenues streams such as water and waste charges.

But council staff, at the request of councillors, have resisted the urge to seek a double-figure water rate rise, settling instead for five per cent and focusing more on reining in spending.

The budget seeks to maintain service levels at current rates but allows for an overall council staff 350 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, meaning council plans to shed between five and 10 positions over the year.

However, in his report to councillors, corporate services and finance director Bob Roach says the staff cuts will be achieved through natural attrition rather than redundancies.

And he warns increasing pressure on council's budget means larger rate rises are on the cards in future years.

“Council should be mindful of the continual squeeze on the council in its ability to raise revenue through rates as compared to pricing policies of State Government and commercial organisations,” Mr Roach said.

“Consideration needs to be given to increasing general rates above the ‘pegged’ limit into the future, or the reduction of current service levels into the future.

“... Councillors should be aware that as the city grows and the need for staff resources increases, additional staff may be needed in future years. This will place pressure on future budgets.

“Councillors should also be mindful that council is continually being requested to increase service levels in rural areas and at present there is no corresponding rate increase available to offset these increased costs.”

The new budget forecasts sets aside another $1 million towards the manganese removal project to clean Bathurst’s water and $700,000 for the bicentenary flagstaff project at Bicentennial Park.

There is about $3.5 million for a range of road projects across the region, including $300,000 for repairs and shoulder widening on the Bridle Track.

Two badly damaged netball courts at the Durham Street complex will be repaired at a cost of $115,000 and a sum of $159,232 has been put aside for new library book purchases.

The budget also includes more than $225,000 worth of Section 356 donations to local community groups, in addition to the donation requests received by council throughout the year.

If councillors approve the draft budget on Wednesday night it will go on public exhibition for 28 days before council seeks to finalise the 2014-15 budget at its May meeting.