Go, Collin, go

ALL praise to Councillor Collin Ross for trying to keep this year’s rate increase to no more than the consumer price index (CPI).
But alas! Cr Ross has no support and even the Premier (Dan the Man) has already broken one quarter of his election promise to keep rates at or below the CPI. Among the very first announcements of the Premier was that the limit would not apply for the next rating year. Since then, we have learned that councils will be able to apply for exemption in ‘special circumstances’.
Cardinia Shire this year is proposing an increase of more that double the CPI. No doubt next year there will be an application for special purposes exemption.
When any commercial enterprise lacks income, the first step is to cut expenditure. This obviously does not apply to councils. We see a continual increase in staff. A neighbouring council has admitted to an increase from 125 employees to 286 in 10 years. Cardinia no doubt is similar.
Every employee at Cardinia seems to have a title. One such is “Strengthening Officer”. When I inquired of a councillor what this position entailed, I was jokingly informed that it had nothing to do with weight lifting. I have not enquired as to what the “Special Places Officer” does!
Don McLean,
Bunyip.