Albury's new mayor targets fiscal restraint amid $10.7m council deficit
Albury's new mayor says a special rate increase should be a last resort despite a $10.7 million deficit.
Albury's new mayor Kylie King says her main goal is fixing the council's finances. She wants to do this before asking residents for more money.
The council recorded a general fund deficit of $10.7 million in the past financial year. That shows a $15 million improvement from the year before.
A $29.6 million jump in revenue was the main reason. This included more than $5 million in extra rates collected.
Still, the council is in the red. King said every councillor was focused on controlling spending.
She wants to find new long-term ways to bring in money rather than raise rates right away. Chief executive Jason Gordon called the result "probably one of the stronger operating results in several years".
The council still relies on money from the federal government. King replaced former mayor Kevin Mack.
He faced angry backlash over rate rise plans, including AI-generated wanted posters.
- $10.7 million
- General fund deficit
- $15 million
- Year-on-year improvement
- $29.6 million
- Revenue increase
- Kylie King
- Mayor
Why it mattersHow Albury Council balances its books will decide whether residents face rate hikes or service cuts over the coming years.
AustraliaAlbury ratepayers will see how their new council leadership addresses a persistent deficit without squeezing household budgets through higher rates.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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