Cash drive for diploma

Freedom of Information has revealed that councillor Collin Ross has spent a total of $20,021.43 of ratepayer money to obtain his “diploma”, the breakup of costs as follows – course fees $14,661.43 and fuel costs $5360.
In 2008 a former mayor used the privilege of a ratepayer funded fuel card and the mayoral car for his family holiday to Darwin, the cost to ratepayers was $2000 in fuel.
There was a public outrage forcing the council to change its policy, the change was implemented immediately and the former mayor was overwhelming routed from office at the next council election.
Cardinia Shire Council’s debit is $47 million, it has just borrowed additional money to purchase the new Shire Offices in Officer at an undisclosed sum, could the new borrowings be $30 million plus?
Ratepayers now hold the burden of this increased debit now totally a possible $77 million.
Cr Ross has based his entire platform on lower rates but when called upon to provide a plan to achieve lower rates he remains deathly silent.
Instead Cr Collin Ross has spent $20,021.43 of ratepayers’ money to obtain his “diploma”.
With rates and our council debit soaring out of control, it’s time for councillors to reassess the situation.
I call upon all Cardinia Shire councillors in the interest of ratepayers to review and change this policy that allows councillors to spend $20,021.43 to obtain a diploma.
Andrew McNabb,
Officer.