Despite receiving almost $5 million more than anticipated in the 2017-18 financial year, the Eurobodalla Shire Council’s surplus for the same period was more than $600,000 less than hoped for.
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Spending was $2.4 million higher than budgeted for, attributed to extra staff for grant-funded infrastructure and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) related programs, and unbudgeted “depreciation variation” and asset disposal losses.
The council said: “Variances ... between forecast and actual performance for (the period) relate to the Operating Performance, Building and Infrastructure Renewal and Efficiency Ratios.”
The surplus mostly came from grant funding received the financial year before it could be spent, and “ongoing efficiency gains”.
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The additional money came from increased user fees and charges, increased water usage, NDIS-related income, grants and contributions.
Just two per cent of revenue was from investments, and 85 per cent, or $95,591,000, came from a combination of rates, annual charges and user charges and fees; 13 per cent came from operating grants and contributions.
The three main expenses for the council in 2017-18 were employee costs, depreciation and materials and contracts.
