MORE ABOUT COST SHIFTING AND YOUR RATES
The budget as proposed by the Monash council is of serious concern to Ratepayers, whilst one may conclude that the proposed 7.5% is above CPI rate rises of $1.00 per week, as stated by the Mayor Cr Joy Banerji, are far from the truth.
As predicted by our Association, this year will be a horror year for Ratepayers.
"While maintenance of infrastructure is a continuing need in Council budgets, the rate hikes we are seeing across the State relate more to the increasing scope of Council activities. (Health, welfare, recreation, culture, 'capacity building,' tourism, economic development ,environment etc . Rising administration costs as well as imposed statutory requirements are reflected annually in rates way beyond the CPI.
A recent Senate Inquiry estimated cost shifts from State governments onto local governments between $500 million and $1billion per year.
Unless Councils are prepared to say NO to new projects that have been the responsibility of the State there will never be enough money. Local Government cannot be all things to all people and in trying to do so will force previously independent people out of property ownership into the welfare system.
Ratepayers believe the cost of local government will become unbearable unless there is a clear drawing of boundaries around the responsibilities of Federal-State-Local Government."
Jack Davis J.P
Past president