BATHURST Regional Council has taken a nearly $4.5 million hit during the coronavirus pandemic so far, the latest mayoral minute has revealed.
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The document, presented to Wednesday's council meeting, detailed the impact on council, with the gross cost for 2020-21 financial year $3,732,732 and council's stimulus measures amounting to $754,527.
This brings the total cost to $4,487,259.
One of the biggest losses has been from the Bathurst 1000.
While the event was still held at Mount Panorama, it was severely restricted and resulted in a net loss of $1,291,088 to council.
"Since we've been doing this, it's cost us as council around $4.5 million, which is a lot of money," Mayor Bobby Bourke said.
"This is our fifth [mayoral minute] and we will probably have another one in March. It's about helping the community out and the businesses, and I think as mayor and you as councillors we're doing a fairly good job of doing that."
To assist in funding the COVID-19 costs council identified and implemented budget reductions/savings totalling $2,106,489 through the mayoral minute in September.
Further reductions/savings, totalling $1,098,716, were identified in the new mayoral minute and will be implemented.
The new mayoral minute also introduced further stimulus measures to assist the community through the challenges of the pandemic.
One measure was to waive $17,000 in Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC) hire fees for the 2021 Carillon Theatrical Society performance.
Due to COVID-19, the group was unable to hold its show in 2020, but is proposing a 2021 performance.
Council will apply a discount of $17,000 on the amount remaining after the standard 20 per cent discount (local users) is allocated.
Another new stimulus measure is waiving Outdoor Dining Fees from January 1 to June 30, 2021 at an estimated cost of $9244.
This is in response to the NSW Government's promotion of outdoor dining facilities "as a way to facilitate the energising of local economics".
Council will also waive Bathurst Library fines for the period of January 1 to June 30, 2021.
It is estimated this will cost $5233.
While the stimulus measures this year have come at a significant cost to council, councillor Monica Morse said they were a "wise decision".
"It has cost us a lot of money, but when you look at how the community has been affected by COVID, I think it's been a wise decision by council," she said.
