Rate Rise Concerns

The below was provided to us from registered association members CD & CD:

Following Saturday’s meeting we wish to record our concerns regarding Council’s rate rise intentions, so that our speaker can raise them on Thursday…

1. The whole purpose of Council mergers (we were told) was to create economies of scale and save money through greater efficiency. However, our rates continue to rise and now we are told Council needs an SRV of extraordinary size. Meanwhile, services continue to decline. So what was that all about?
2. The resident survey Council distributed stated repeatedly that a rate rise was required but failed to detail where the financial deficiencies are and what the money would be used for. Just bland statements about ‘infrastructure’ and ‘roads’. We don’t even have footpaths, and we live in a subdivision where the developer made a contribution to Council for them – where are they? And what happened to the money?
3. Having gone to the trouble and expense of conducting the survey it now appears Council is ignoring the overwhelming ‘no’ vote and proceeding on a course of action that is diametrically opposed to the wishes of ratepayers. With no explanation why a sudden huge increase is preferred over a staggered increase, or better still, none. And this at a time when the news media is full of the pressure people are under because of inflation and cost of living increases. Where is the sense in this?
4. We live in area subject to an SAP proposal. What impact is this going to have on revenue, rates and the provision of infrastructure into the future? How is Council taking this into account? There seems to be a lot of State Government support for this so how is Council integrating that into future planning and expenditure?
5. We would be more comfortable paying a staggered rate increase but only if:
   (a) Council detailed what works, maintenance or upgrades the money would be used for;
   (b) There was a sunset clause on the increased rates, or a plan to reduce them when the claimed shortfall is made up. After all, if the rise is required to address a lack of
   revenue and to fix all these unamed things that there is no money for, then obviously at some point in the future we will have ‘caught up’ with the past and there will
   presumably be a surplus. What is to be done then?

Association members from East Jindabyne (CD & CD)