ADELAIDE Plains Council is set to freeze staff salaries, introduce a rate revenue rise of 1.9 per cent, record a nearly $700,000 operating deficit and see a debt increase of $1.3 million, according to its recently-approved draft 2020/21 budget.

Elected members endorsed the council’s draft 2020/21 budget and long term financial plan at their April meeting, which will soon be released for public consultation.

The budget is predicated on a 1.9 per cent rate rise for existing properties, with an operating deficit of $694,000 set to see the council borrow a further $1.3 million to cover costs.

In April, the council announced a range of rate relief measures to help ratepayers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including flexible rate payment options and the postponement of first-quarter 2020/21 rates until November 1.

According to the draft budget, a 3.5 per cent rise in 2020/21 was originally touted in the council’s long term financial plan, but this was revised as a result of the pandemic.

In his foreword to the budget, chief executive officer James Miller said the budget was “cognisant of the various pressures and expectations placed on council by our community, our residents and our business sector”.

“With employment and investment having taken a huge ‘hit’ as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Council needs to remain agile, flexible and adaptable in its financial management.

“Only those services considered essential need be delivered and only those infrastructure projects identified in the Infrastructure and Asset Management Plan ought to be undertaken.”

Council’s capital program is set to include $61,000 for the renewal of footpaths in Two Wells and Mallala, $70,000 towards an upgrade of the Dawkins and Bethesda road intersection at Lewiston and $270,000 to reseal Powerline Road near Mallala.

A further $50,000 will be put towards progressing the Two Wells main street upgrade project through grant funding applications and to unlock crown land along Old Port Wakefield Road.

To save funds during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Miller has also announced no members of the council’s executive team – including himself – would receive a pay rise in the coming year.

“As chief executive, it is incumbent on me to show leadership during these unprecedented times,” he said.

“Until council is provided with a degree of certainty in respect of its operational and financial stability, it would be highly irresponsible of me as a public officer to make any long-term determinations regarding council’s labour budget.

“To that end, I have advised my chamber that I will insist that no salary adjustment be afforded to me as part of my next performance review, irrespective of superior performance or KPIs (key performance indicators) being surpassed.

“Similarly, I have put it to council’s executive management team to adopt a similar salary freeze, which, to their credit, has been unanimously supported.”

The council’s employee relations agreements with other staff are also underway, with Mr Miller pushing for the current deal to be rolled over for another year with no pay rise.

“Early feedback from our staffing base has been extremely positive,” Mr Miller said.

“Our staff are our greatest commodity and their collective efforts over these difficult past few months has been outstanding. They ought to be commended.”