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Fix those potholes!

12/12/2019

6 Comments

 
PicturePotholed roads, cracked footpaths, open drains … let’s get on with the job, urges Frank W Schooneveldt
By Frank W Schooneveldt
 
BASS Coast Shire Council keeps telling us there is a $600 million backlog in infrastructure issues. We know. Every day we all experience bad roads and footpaths, erosion and poor drainage – all in need of urgent attention.

We want to see our Shire shine with the very best it can offer – community facilities such as swimming pools, recreational grounds and arts centres that bring us together as a community and give our kids the best start in life.
 
Infrastructure spending means local jobs.
 
So how do we fix this backlog? It’s simple. We make rates fair for all.

Did you know that the Bass Coast rates are actually 10 per cent below our neighbours in South Gippsland Shire?
 
There is far too much reliance on rates on residential properties to fund the Bass Coast Shire Council budget.
 
The demographics are changing. The influx of young families and retirees means we need to reduce the burden on these people and instead look to those who can actually afford it – the owners of commercial properties, industrial properties, lifestyle properties and holiday homes. In our Shire, holiday homes make up a large percentage of properties. Holiday home owners pay the same amount as residents.
 
In a nutshell, similar to land tax, the more property you own, the more tax you pay.
 
We are in a good position to move on our infrastructure backlog. To quote from the council’s 2018-19 annual report, Bass Coast’s cash holdings and equivalents have grown from $24.31 million to $51.34 million over the past seven years.
 
If the council reviews rates we can pay for the works necessary to take our community into the future.
 
Council should also introduce a 12-month rolling cashflow as a management tool to help it forecast revenue and expenditure on a monthly basis. As one month is completed, the new months are re-forecasted. This will enable the council to better manage funds that are available for infrastructure spending.
 
But it is not just the council that needs to act.
 
The Victorian Government is currently reviewing its Local Government Rating System. In its terms of reference for this review, the Victorian Government says it is committed to the financial sustainability of councils and ensuring the burden of rates falls fairly amongst all taxpayers.
 
I think most of us would agree with that sentiment.
 
Bass Coast Council has already put in a submission to this review which I support.
The Victorian Government must repeal the current 2.5 per cent rate cap. There is no way this is sustainable for any rural council such as ours. We don’t have revenue coming from parking and other fees that metropolitan councils do.
 
I know governments and councils run scared from the politics of rate increases. But surely economic stability would come in before political point-scoring. The system we have at the moment is simply not sustainable. In fact, our Shire is going backwards because the rate cap means we can’t spend what we need to on our infrastructure. It’s untenable.
 
If the Victorian Government scraps the rate cap, I encourage the council to do a full rates review so we can all commit to future sustainability via infrastructure spending, paid for by the fairest means possible – an increase in rates, plus Australian and Victorian government grants.
 
If we, the people of the Bass Coast, can bring money to the table I’m sure the Australian and Victorian governments would support our infrastructure projects.
 
So make it fair, governments and council, and fix the potholes. That’s all we ask.
6 Comments
Deborah
13/12/2019 10:57:26 am

"In a nutshell, similar to land tax, the more property you own, the more tax you pay."
Yes well that is already happening - BIG time! Please dn't add MORE to it!
Owners of investment properties already pay land tax: and it has more than doubled last year! It's just blood money for the simple sin of trying to get ahead and provide for your own family and not have to rely on the pension in old age.
Investment property owners are already paying way more than their share. Not all holiday home owners are rich.
The average wages of owners of investment property that negative gears is $80,000 and the average job a teacher or nurse.
Hardly the top end of town!
Insurance is increasing, and rents cannot increase at the same rate in the market. On top of that holiday owners don't use any of the amenities here in the same way as permanent residents.
The ole more taxes, more taxes is the lazy way.
The ole "tax the rich" just hurts every day working Aussies as unfortunately, there are some in politics who seem to think average working Aussies are the "top end of town"....

Reply
Cr Geoff Ellis
13/12/2019 05:10:54 pm

One of my great concerns is the 120+ km of unsealed urban roads in Bass Coast that are a harsh legacy of inept planning from the pre-amalgamation era. The current funding model for this tears communities apart and it will be the year 2100 before we get the last km bituminized. The State government could leave the rate cap in place and just directly fund a large scheme to bituminize and gutter all our urban roads as a starter. That would raise the property value and amenity of large tracts of Bass Coast. I note that there are no roads being returned to gravel around Spring St.

Reply
Frank W Schooneveldt
14/12/2019 09:07:36 am

That sounds like a good idea Geoff.

1. We borrow money from the state and federal government to fix the roads and drainage issues in the Bass Coast.
2. This will create jobs in the Shire.
3. As a consequence of fixing these infrastructure issues, the value of the properties go up significantly.
4. We expand the budget to service the infrastructure loans.
5. We divide the increased budget with the higher property values so that the repayment of the loans is shared across the Shire.
6. We all like to see our property values increase.
7. We need to ensure that the valuations of the properties are accurate so that everybody pays their fair share.
8. I think it is a privilege to live in the Bass Coast so we need to pay a little more for that privilege.
Cheers Frank

Reply
Cr Geoff link
16/12/2019 12:08:26 am

I'd vote for you any day!

Frank W Schooneveldt
21/1/2020 09:38:52 am

I was dumbstruck when I read in the SGST of 24/12/2019 that the Bass Coast Shire Council will work within a 2 per cent rate cap set by the State Government.
Council CEO Ali Wastie said: “We will continue to deliver our services to the Bass Coast community and visitors within the 2 per cent rate cap in the 2020-21 financial year. This cements our long-term financial goals and maintains our position as one of the lowest-rating and lowest-spending Councils amongst similar Victorian Councils.”

This is ridiculous.

The lowest-spending Council is not a legacy to be proud of when we’ve got $600 million in outstanding infrastructure works in this Shire.

As I keep saying, infrastructure investment does more than fix the potholes – it provides local jobs for our community. It is an investment in our community.

I’m also not aware that the promised community consultation on the budget ever occurred before this seemingly arbitrary decision was made.

I had been told in a letter from the Council that they would review its rating strategy ahead of the 2020-21 Budget, and community input into that review would be welcomed. Apparently this policy has changed.

To quote Councillor Les Larke in the SGST of 10/12/2019: “I encourage residents and ratepayers to get actively involved in the upcoming Budget discussions and submissions, and emphasise that our community has the right to be heard loudly and clearly about Council’s Budget priorities.”
So as usual, council has made up its mind already, and will simply rubber stamp it, rather than talk to us Bass Coast residents about what we want the rates we pay for, spent on.

Reply
Steve
28/9/2020 10:41:19 am

So you want everyone except yourself to pay? Wouldn't we all!

Reply



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