Mount Alexander Shire councillors engaged in intense debate regarding rate rises at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Cr Tony Cordy requested an amendment to the proposed budget to reduce the rate increase from 3.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent given the financial difficulties faced by residents.
“The adjustment from a 3.5 per cent increase to 2.5 per cent is only a small decrease but it demonstrates that the council does understand the living pressure on our residents. It is my understanding that the proposed change will have minimal impact,” Cr Cordy said.
Cr Gary McClure expressed his disappointment at the amendment given the number of discussions the council had already had on the matter.
“Inflation is at eight per cent and it is nowhere near inflation,” Cr McClure said.
“This council can’t continue holding back on our operations and not keeping our increases going to the maximum amount allowed by the government, otherwise we’re never going to catch up, we’ll never get that money back that we don’t collect and this council will keep going backward.”
Cr Christine Henderson, also in opposition to the amendment, said she was surprised the amendment had been raised given the discussions and work that had already taken place.
“This year was really quite sobering and upsetting to see how little we could tackle,” Cr Henderson said.
“The average annual rates are just under $2000, reducing rates to 2.5 per cent is only a one per cent difference, which amounts to $20 to ratepayers, but for the council, it is equal to $300,000. What do we take off? Road repair or graffiti? Early years or community grants?
“We must have it. We must have it because otherwise, this council will go deeper and deeper into a hole.”
Cr Bill Maltby spoke in support of the amendment to increase rates by 2.5 per cent stating that council was very stable.
“People out there are hurting. $20 might not be a lot to us, but it’s a lot to a lot of people,” he said.
“If for 12 months we reduce it from 3.5 to 2.5, I can’t see it affecting the municipality that much.”
Cr Matthew Driscol said the council offered more than 100 services.
“What services would Crs Maltby, Gardner and Cordy like to delete?” he asked.
“While everyone wants to be Santa Claus, I think it is economically irresponsible to go ahead with this.”
Cr Stephen Gardner noted that the issue was part of a broader discussion in the community about how much people should pay and how much they should get back.
“The Victorian Government is talking about a horror budget with lots of cuts,” he said.
“Council shouldn’t be fenced off from these discussion – jacking up rates all the time just because we can.”
Crs Rosie Annear, McClure, Henderson and Driscol voted against the amendment and the proposed budget – with a rate increase of 3.5 per cent – will now be made available to the public for inspection at the Civic Centre and at shape.mountalexander.vic.gov.au/draft-budget-2023-2024.
Any written submissions received by Wednesday May 10 at a Special Meeting of Council at the Civic Centre on Tuesday Mary 23.
Cr Annear said she hoped when residents read the document.
“I hope you are able to see the forest for the trees, and all the good things we’re funding in the year ahead, big and small,” she said.
“Before I was on the council, when I was just a ratepayer and I was having a bit of a struggle, council officers helped me set up a payment plan so I could afford my rates.
“It is really tough right now to deliver the services that we know people need with the amount of resources we have.
“We want to hear from people, how it affects you, and we need to keep having this conversation.
“Do read your budget document. We have not adopted the budget yet, it will happen in June, there is still time for you to give a submission.”