Bega Valley Shire councillor David Porter is urging everyone to have their say on a proposal which could see rates increase in the Bega Valley by 35 per cent.
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The proposal, which is already collecting plenty of angry face emojis on social media, will be discussed at the council meeting on Wednesday, May 4.
Council staff are recommending councillors vote for the 35 per cent increase because of "council's immediate and significant need to generate additional revenue".
At this stage it is a proposal and a recommendation by staff, and has not been passed by councillors.
"The public have until 4pm the day before the council meeting to ask to speak to councillors at the council meeting or submit a position in writing. I encourage everyone to have their say and let councillors know what you think of the proposal," Cr Porter said on Tuesday, May 3 after ACM broke the story of the proposal.
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Council is already planning a series of community meetings which will be opportunities for the public to discuss the future of the shire, and its finances, what alternatives there are to a 35 per cent rate rise and have a say.
But Cr Porter said he was afraid that if the 35 per cent increase was agreed at council, the community meetings would only have one subject - that of the rate increase and he believes that the community needs to have a say on much broader issues.
"This council with one of the lowest populations, has a great deal of distributed services. With a population of 34,000 if we provide gold star services to every area the staff will say we need 35 per cent increase," Cr Porter said.
"The conversation with the community needs to be about what is superfluous," he said.
"Do we have big expenses like our swimming pools or sort out our roads," Cr Porter said.
"When I first heard about the 35 per cent recommendation I was stunned that council was in this position," he said.
Cr Porter points to lack of adequate funding from the Federal Government and costs being passed onto councils from the State Government.
"I urge people to have their say. We've got to be creative in the plans we develop and look at rationalisations."
The community meetings are planned for:
- Bemboka May 7 10-11.30am hall car park
- Cobargo May 11 9-10.30am Valiant Coffee Nook
- Bermagui May 12 3.30-5pm Growers and Makers Market
- Merimbula May 15 9-10.30am Seaside Markets
- Bega May 20 9.30-11am SCPA Markets
- Eden May 21 9-10.30am Community Markets
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Denise Dion
Regional daily news journalist on the Far South Coast of NSW. Contact me on 0418 213 780 or at denise.dion@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Regional daily news journalist on the Far South Coast of NSW. Contact me on 0418 213 780 or at denise.dion@austcommunitymedia.com.au
