Money management slammed

By Paul Dunlop
RATEPAYERS at a public forum last week criticised Cardinia Shire’s financial management, claiming rising council rates were unjustified and the level of debt unacceptable.
However, councillors emphatically rejected the claims, saying a small group of residents were intent on creating dissent and spreading misinformation.
As the countdown continues to the November elections, debate about council’s performance in the last three years is beginning to escalate in the community.
Cardinia Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association (CRRA) president Gloria O’Connor said more than 100 people attended a meeting hosted by the CRRA at Pakenham town hall last Thursday.
Mrs O’Connor said concerns about council’s finances were on the top of the agenda.
“Cardinia Shire Council’s spending priorities were questioned and also the need for the $100 levy which, together with a seven per cent rates increase, is written into the budget to continue for the next five years,” Mrs O’Connor said.
“This is seen as an unjustifiable increase in real terms to each ratepayer.
“The current council debt level is almost $50 million and is likely to increase. This is unacceptable to ratepayers and cannot be allowed to continue.”
Residents at the meeting called upon the council to introduce a rigorous program of cost reduction and responsible spending in order to bring down the debt level, Mrs O’Connor said.
The meeting also called for the removal of the $100 municipal charge while maintaining the service quality expected by ratepayers.
Mayor Garry Runge said residents were entitled to their opinion, but that it was nonsense to think that anybody could simply “wave a magic wand”.
“It would be great to not have any debt and low rates and no municipal charge, but there wouldn’t be any assets either,” he said.
“That would mean no new pool, no library at Emerald, no 50 kilometres of road being built.
“You can be debt free (but) you won’t have future development.”
Cr Runge said the shire’s budget had been extensively debated in council and was given a thorough airing in the community.
It had been checked and found satisfactory by the auditor general, he said.
Council was continuing to provide for its fastgrowing community, he said.
Cr Kate Lempriere said the critics “had it wrong”.
“I don’t care what these people out there say,” she said when council’s annual report was released last week.
“They are being divisive, they don’t know what they are talking about.”
Cr Lempriere said council had made a lot of progress in the last three years and congratulated her council colleagues and shire officers for their hard work.
“We have done a tremendous job,” Cr Lempriere said.
Cr Doug Hamilton said people interested in what was happening in the shire should take the time to read council’s annual report to “find out exactly what’s happening”.