Community meets to contemplate rates

I attended the Tarwin Lower and Venus Bay community meeting on Saturday (January 21) organised out of concern at the large increase in the area’s shire rates, the Tarwin Lower Hall was packed, well done to the organisers. Scott Rae and Sarah Gilligan were the councillors in attendance to take the heat.

The presentation showed the residential rate in the dollar is 49 cents, this of course is the rate for all South Gippsland Shire, so a home valued at (now not uncommon) $500,000 would be levied almost $2500 p.a. By comparison the residential rate in the dollar for Bass Coast is 31 cents, so council rates on a $500,000 property valuation there would come in at approximately $1500, or around $1000 p.a less. One option might be for Venus Bay area to try and join Bass Coast, this could be a long process, but l would argue all rates for SGSC should be lower, and comparable to Bass Coast.

One of Saturday’s committee said SGSC had $45 million in the bank, yes $45 million dollars. Perhaps instead of rubber-stamping rates rises each year to the maximum approved by the state, our councillors should be working for the community to find out why this $45 million of ratepayers’ contributions shouldn’t be given back to the ratepayers by way of a rates reduction. Let’s say cut the rates by 50% and “cut the cloth to suit the purse.”

In the past South Gippsland Shire Council has encouraged the community to look upon council as a business, so as a business where do councils get off deciding what they want then sending you a bill, what business can do that?

Many are challenging the unconstitutionality of local government, as local government has been rejected at several referenda, and the legitimacy of rates charges. l understand further meetings are to follow the Tarwin Lower meeting where these matters, and the rates charges can be discussed, stay tuned.

Steve Finlay, Leongatha