Ratepayers to quiz candidates

A REVIEW of the $100 municipal charge is among the demands Cardinia Ratepayers and Residents Association wants council candidates to support at the November elections.
A meeting of the ratepayers’ association in Pakenham last week saw officials draw up a list of issues it will ask candidates in the Cardinia Shire elections to commit to during their campaign.
Reviewing the levy, heralded by councillors and officers as a key part of a fair and responsible new approach to revenue raising, is top of the CRRA wishlist.
Others issues include: public accessibility of council meetings; transparency in decision making; review of senior management; udgeting accountability; and true recognition of community concerns.
CRRA president Gloria O’Connor said the issues would be put forward as major requirements from any person seeking election to council.
“The CRRA has the view that we, as ratepayers and revenue providers, have a right to expect full accountability in every area of council process and practice, including administrative management,” she said.
“In our opinion, prospective candidates who cannot recognise and commit to the expectations of the CRRA are not worthy of election to council and will not receive endorsement from our association.” The CRRA has previously lobbied against the municipal levy, most recently as part of the council’s 200506 budget deliberations.
But although it might be unpopular with ratepayers, the levy has plenty of support in local government circles.
Council chief executive office Don Welsh said at council’s 18 July meeting that only 27 of 79 municipalities did not have a municipal charge on top of their standard rating system.
Cr Helen Ward said that the charge, coupled with a differential rate, was the most equitable method of spreading the load across all ratepayers.