Despite the Ballarat Residents and Ratepayers Association raising concerns about a cut to maintenance funding, councillors voted unanimously to approve the budget on Wednesday night.

Council’s 2017-21 plan, which was also passed, detailed a planned cut to asset renewal over four years..

Association secretary John Barnes said at council’s ordinary meeting on June 14 that the planned cut would halve council’s maintenance budget.

Mr Barnes also questioned council on a failure to publicly discuss submissions from ratepayers on the draft budget, during question time at the meeting on Wednesday night.

“There is no summary of public comments or submissions made from officers,” he said.

“No discussion was had at the June 14 meeting, or is council going to discuss it tonight?”

Council chief executive Justine Linley said council had complied with legal requirements during public consultation.

“We have followed all due process,” she said.

The association also raised concerns about the lack of a business case for council’s planned Eureka Stadium takeover.

Mr Barnes said on June 14 it was disturbing no business plan had been presented.

“Councillors have been in receipt of all submissions, including those submitted electronically.”

As part of its budget council has approved few new spending items, with the bulk of funding being put towards a number of big ongoing projects.

This includes $1 million for ongoing funding of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka, $1.6 million for the Ballarat Art Gallery and $5 million for the Ballarat West Employment Zone.

Council is also committed to spend $8 million to restore inside Civic Hall and more than $600,000 on Her Majesty’s Theatre.

A big $2.775 million will be invested in tourism and events in the next financial year, however council has refused to reveal how much each of the 130 will receive from the allocation.

Ms Linley said there were confidentiality agreements covering many of the events in May.

The money also includes a provision for new events, existing civic ceremonies and festivals.

A two per cent rate rise also approved in line with rate capping.