Many people and businesses in our region think, mistakenly, that de-amalgamation will cost you more than staying amalgamated. I urge you to please read the current press on the 2012-2013 council budget. I do know that much of the money committed in this budget on studies and on non-essential projects has been forced on council by the 2008 amalgamation and the rewrite of the Local Government Act at that time. At a time like this I would expect that the budget should include ONLY absolutely essential projects planned by council employees, carried out by council employees and completed within a tightly controlled budget. Some expenditures should be held back awaiting the promised changes to the Local Government Act by the end of this year.
So much of the budget is on items that once belonged in the State Budget but were shifted to council responsibility without concommittent funding. Even more is related to employment of consultants to do plans, investigations, more plans, even masterplans for all sorts of non-earning projects, work which could be carried out by council staff who must have the skills to do the work. Yes, the budget includes, as it should, worthwhile and essential operations and maintenance works, essential capital upgrades and replacement of out-moded equipment and that is commendable; so long as cost control is very good; but it is beyond comprehension why so much is being expended on non-essential works and capital works. That only increases the level of borrowing which is already too high since amalgamation, which alone has cost us all $24 million, of which only $2.38 million was reimbursed by State.
Council’s last four budgets have operated with large deficits, and forward forecasts continue to predict a ‘never never’ non-delivered small surplus at least three years down the track Borrowings have increased. Council is the child of the State Government. Have amalgamated councils inherited the previous State government’s DNA, plummeting us into the abyss of ongoing debt and deficit? Please stop the rot.
Amalgamation has already cost you, the ratepayers, heavily. Indications are clear that this will continue. There are petitions throughout your ‘shire.
Start the process now. Sign the petitions. De-amalgamate and return our shires before it is too late
Bob Johnson
Stanthorpe
