Mayor Hartwig: You Will Be Able To Hold Us To Account

Gympie region Mayor, Glen Hartwig, said the 2020/2021 Council budget will “go some way to help alleviate some of Council’s significant financial strain” after it was endorsed by Council this morning at a Special Meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Mayor Hartwig said the budget process was “difficult.”

“There is no shying away from the fact this budget was extremely challenging,” Mayor Hartwig said.

“As a council we have done our best to claw back some of the deficit we inherited.

“This budget focuses on financial repair and the return to core services as needed by our community as we restore, rebuild to bring us back to a strong financial foundation.

“As a group we had to make some extremely tough calls and we know that there will be some in our community who will be affected more than others as a result of this budget.

“To those residents I say, this council has done its best given what we have to work with.

“There has been a number of unprecedented challenges, like COVID-19 and the economic impact it has had.

“We are getting back to basics and this budget has the rate payer firmly at front of mind.

“Our objective is to make sure we are delivering our core services well and in a financially responsible way.

“This budget is a line in the sand. Over our four-year term, you will be able to see how we are tracking and hold us to account.

“I wish to thank my fellow councillors and Council staff who have assisted greatly in this process,” Mayor Hartwig said.

You can view the full budget document at www.gympie.qld.gov.au.