A CLOSE-FISTED attitude to finance has help Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) claw its way through COVID-19.
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While unrestricted cash, or the rainy day fund, still sits below the ideal $6 million minimum balance at $5.2 million, a quarterly review of the council's money matters shows it has started to make up some ground.
But, the council needs to make a continued concerted effort to reduce the gap, TRC financial services manager Sherrill Young said.
"The main point is that residents think because we have $164 million in the bank, we have a lot of money," she said.
"Council is very much restricted on what or how it can spend its money, as it's linked to the purpose for which it was given.
"It's unrealistic to expect the council will miraculously get through COVID-19 unscathed, but we are making good ground."
Essential works have gone ahead, but the council has made some savings with the delay of some non-essential works.
State and federal government grants, as well as COVID-19 stimulus packages, have helped the council push forward on a number of projects, Ms Young said.
"If it's making something look pretty for the sake of it, it goes on the back-burner," she said.
"We have had to trim the fat with our entertainment, the airport and that sort of thing.
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"We've had to be very mindful that if we are going to take on something new we have to nominate what we aren't going to do anymore."
The council received $4.4 million in grants for things like roads, the Manilla Showground, bridges and mountain bike park works this quarter. Employee costs decreased by $860,000.
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