IN 2011 our council sought support for a similar huge increase to our rates.
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This was emphatically opposed by the ratepayers and wasted a huge amount of time, money and consultancy fees.
The result was no rate rise variation so our council went ahead with big increases in all fees and charges.
Now on top of that they want another 26 per cent increase over the next three years.
Councils get their CPI increases each year without question and this rate variation is just an obscene grab for cash.
When Joe Hockey announced changes to pensions in the federal budget our caring mayor and GM went straight to Canberra to protest on behalf of the large proportion of ratepayers in Eurobodalla who are pensioners.
Now they are pushing for a 26 per cent rate rise, one wonders who they represent.
A recent announcement stated over a $1 million surplus for council last year. Who needs a rate rise? If funds are needed let’s try cutting staff and expenses.
Our mayor could stay home more often and use new technology to communicate.
Community services could be pruned to those that are needed. Residents do not need council to show them how to ride a bike, or cook a meal or what to plant in the garden, etc.
It has disadvantaged so many residents and wasted so much of our rates with draconian LEP and sea-level rise policies. It has stifled development with a negative approach to any building.
Council’s increased fees and charges have spared no-one – even dog registration recently increased over 25 per cent.
It is vital people let council and our local member Andrew Constance know they are not in a position to pay for this variation to our rates, or in favour.
Council needs to work within its means like the rest of us do. If they cut the waste, then a rate decrease would be possible next year.
Bruce Rapkins
Kianga