Rates beyond the pale

RECENTLY, I sat down to pay my monthly bills. It was with immense anger and disbelief that I had realised that the Cardinia Shire Council rates had gone up yet another 100 odd dollars! This is separate to the recently legislated fire levy.
It is apparent that an average $300,000 home in Cardinia rates 25 per cent more, than a half million-dollar home in Mentone!!
Upon further investigation, I have discovered that over the last 10 years, the Cardinia Shire Council has increased rates by a cumulative 90 per cent. Unbelievable.
The Cardinia Shire Council is living beyond the means of many of its residents and is producing rate increases well above the CPI. This is adding significantly to cost of living pressures.
In my job, I am rightly expected to justify my spending after ensuring that I ‘shop around’ for the best deal possible.
Does our council do the same? Other people’s money is indeed very easy to throw away!
I am absolutely certain that I am not alone in wondering if we have a council that truly represents the best interests of our community.
How does the council justify such an exorbitant increase on such a consistent basis?How many others living in this community are feeling the way that I do about this issue?
What is ‘our’ council which is supposed to be both supporting and representing our community doing about ensuring costs do not continue going up?
It seems that we are currently represented by a ‘majority’ of council members who have lost touch with the community who they are supposed to represent. Am I accurate in believing that Councillor Colin Ross is the only councillor to vote against past and present rate increases?
I would like to hear the reasons behind why our other council representatives seem to think that constant rate increases are acceptable.
I look forward to hearing your responses councillors, as I am sure, does the rest of the community!
Margita Valic,
Pakenham.