Vote against rate rises

ACCORDING to its 2014/15 budget, Casey has the second lowest rates per capita in outer metropolitan Melbourne.
Mr Mayor, there’s no need for Casey council to feel proud about the above statement. No need to boast.
If you were to compare Casey with Greater Dandenong Council you might have reason to boast since it holds a record in wasting ratepayers’ money, as when the streets near Dandenong Post Office were painted.
We, residents of Casey will congratulate council if there’s no rise in the rates.
Council should constantly endeavour to reduce expenditure and cut out unnecessary projects.
Councillors should not invent projects just to spend ratepayers’ money.
It appears that council has started painting footpaths in Casey. What a waste of money!
Is there any good reason why the roundabout at the junction of Kidds Road and Power Road in Doveton has been painted red?
If that job has cost council only peanuts, OK!
Otherwise, Casey ratepayers would be interested to know the cost.
Likewise, we would like to know how much money the traffic islands along Kensington Park Drive in Endeavour Hills have cost council.
Was it really necessary to build such traffic islands?
We keep asking, why should we have so many roundabouts where these are not needed?
On the other hand, as ratepayers we flatly reject the following statement published in Citynews: “While council would prefer no rise at all, there are more than 120 people moving into Casey each week, and it is council’s priority to ensure ongoing delivery of essential services and necessary infrastructure for residents.”
Does council mean that all these moving people are refugees who don’t pay rates?
Do they not pay for parks and gardens, for their garbage bins and other services? Perhaps council could ask some land developers to contribute a little more on infrastructure.
Finally, I would like to reiterate my appeal to all voters.
At the next council election, Casey residents should vote only for candidates who take a firm commitment to freeze the rates during their mandate, if they are elected.
Eliezer Francois,
Endeavour Hills.