Rates hike looms

Casey councillor Steve

By Alison Noonan
A CASEY councillor has blamed skyrocketing living costs for looming rate rises.
Deputy mayor Rob Wilson this week warned that increasing petrol and oil prices, combined with council’s waste management expenditure, would inevitably lead to another rate rise in the City of Casey.
Cr Wilson said that council’s growing water, power and sewer bills were also threatening the “wonderful lifestyle” Casey residents had long enjoyed.
“Some councillors are pushing that rates should not go up but a whole lot of things are impacting on expenditure that are beyond council’s control,” he said. “These pressures, such as the rise in the cost of oil and petrol, are going to lead to a rate rise and residents need to be aware of this.”
However Mayfield Ward councillor Steve Beardon denied his colleague’s claims of an impending rates hike.
He vowed to cut “perks, booze-ups and travel expenditure” from the council budget before hitting families with unnecessary charges.
“This is not a free-for-all. Rates have gone up 25 per cent in the last three years alone and families are struggling as it is,” he said.
“Rates need to be reduced, not increased. The top 26 at Casey earn over $3 million a year in wages, with the total wages bill exceeding $33 million.
“Just a one per cent reduction would free up $330,000 – enough to put a community bus on the road down south, construct much needed footpaths and help make our streets safer from hoons.”
Cr Beardon said he would be recommending councillors establish a “waste watch” committee to scrutinise council’s expenditure and cut costs.
“I also want a report detailing all vacant land owned by council with the view of reviewing these holdings and the possible sale of land to offset future rate increases.
“It’s all too tempting and easy for some to look at raising rates but I think we need to take some hard decisions and cut back on expenditure,” he said.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford said the views expressed by Cr Wilson were his own and not of council.
“Cr Wilson does not speak on behalf of council,” he said.
“It is always council’s intention and hope not to raise rates to any extent.
“Council has not determined if or what level rate rise there will be and whatever the council decides after budget deliberations will be in the best interests of the community.
“Residents certainly do not have to fear huge rate hikes.”