Ratepayers in Waimate may have to bail out their local council to the tune of almost half a million dollars.
The district is faced with a financial black hole of more than $200,000 - and that is before a flood repair bill estimated at more than $260,000 is taken into account.
The Waimate District Council had originally envisaged that it would attain a surplus by the end of the year.
However, financial figures released by the council yesterday indicated that for the 11 months ended May 31, 2013, the council had recorded a deficit of $163,000.
Council chief financial officer Graham Durston said that was well below the council's original estimated budget surplus of $44,000.
Mr Durston said the district road resealing programme was only 90% complete, which meant the expected New Zealand Transport Agency subsidy was below the year-to-date budget. Revaluation of buildings and ''infrastructural assets'', most of which was roading, had also come in higher than expected, he said.
Legal fees had been incurred following unsuccessful court action and a Ministry of Health subsidy for water scheme recoveries had been delayed.
He said the council was still working through a process with the ministry to establish what its water standard obligations were.
''At May 31, 2013, we have received $148,000, against a budget of $352,000, and are behind budget by $204,000.''
He added that by year-end, the amount by which the council water scheme recoveries were behind budget would at least double.
However, that sum would be recovered in the next financial year, he said.
Additional figures released by the council yesterday placed the cost of repairing more than 30 rural roads damaged during floods and heavy snow last month at $267,400.
Mr Durston said it was ''highly likely'' that much of the cost would be incurred this year, because the council had a liability to fix the district's roads.
