Major overhaul for road funding
Wednesday April 4, 2010
The policy for determining road funding allocation in the Cobar Shire is set for a major overhaul.
Cobar Shire Councillors at last week’s works committee meeting recommended a major change of strategy for road funding.
Council previously created a budget each year with specific amounts allocated to each road at the beginning of the year.
However council’s new director of engineering Stephen Taylor has recommended a pool of funds of the entire road network expenditure amount be set aside to be allocated on a needs basis.
Councillors debated the issue, raising concerns about the reporting of funding use.
Most councillors agreed the current system was flawed.
“What we were doing in the past just hasn’t worked.
“I think we should give this 12 months and see what happens,” Cr Peter Yench said.
Cr Bob Sinclair said he was concerned that councillors would have no say in the expenditure of the funds throughout the year.
However Mr Taylor said the fund expenditure would need to be pre-approved by councillors on a monthly basis.
He said he envisaged a long term schedule, however the new system would allow for a more flexible funding allocation.
Cr Tracey Kings said the policy shift would require a fundamental change in thinking for all councillors and staff involved.
“It’s not going to happen in a couple of weeks.
“It’s going to take time to train the people that are doing the jobs and Steve [Taylor] needs to change what may have been happening over a number of years,” Cr Kings said.
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