Rates Nearly Double in Four Years.

As a Division Two Councillor during 2004-2008 term, I continually asked the questions, “When fund raising, why does Council always see the residents as the ‘easy option’. Why does Council refuse to look at how it can work better”. On a regular basis for four years I suggested making internal improvements to lesson the burden on ratepayers. Senior Staff did not want a smaller more efficient Council, the majority of the other councillors did not want a smaller more efficient Council. They wanted a bigger Council so they could justify a greater wage packet.

For those reasons, and the fact that the majority in council prevented staff from producing original documentation such as bank statements to me and other elected councillors, I voted against every Rate and Levy increase. When they conceal the real information from councillors what chance do the ratepayers have of ever knowing the reason for there increasing rates. Voting against the ‘increasing’ budget motion four years running, produced much ridicule from the majority of other Councillors, I accepted that gladly as to me personally it proved that I was doing my job by protecting the interests of the residents. Council should not take bread off ratepayers tables without giving at least an equal return in service.

During the last four years, even with the massive influx of State and Federal government flood money our Council roads have returned to conditions not seen since the last Century. They seem to have suffered organised destruction rather than maintenance.

One of the sets of rates I pay, has risen 72% during the last four years many individuals in our region have had much higher rises some up to 120 % during that period. How long can the resident keep paying when the CPI general inflation is 3% and the Council annual rates increase by 17.25 %. I know one businessman that pays $12,000 per year, that effects his competitiveness and his ability to employ staff. Rate increases remove jobs from our general community.

Rates nearly double with in a four year period. Some others 120 % increase in 4 years.

The greatest concern is that all councillors are standing in the next election and on their past record we can expect similar or even larger galloping rate increases. Why does it have to gallop? Well the budget tells us that in 2008 employee basic benefits cost – $18,092,320. In 2012 that same figure is -$34,961,090. Yes, that 34 million and it is a 92 % increase. Add in training courses and its over a 100 % increase. Much of the real work has been delegated to contractors, which is a separate additional figure. The thinning has to occur from the top as the millions of dollars on increased office space does nothing to improve our roads. The ones at the top earn more, (yes much more than councillors) and produce even less. If the current direction of Council is re-elected, you can only expect that the rate increases will keep increasing and our region will suffer an even greater economic downturn.

Ron Owen

Groves Rd

Gympie 54825070.