Rate rise anger

I AM angry that council has decided to increase council rates by 4.7%.

My council rates are $3456 per annum and a 4.7% increase is an additional $162.

There are many people struggling to make ends meet, but the council chief executive on a $300k plus package is oblivious to this. Increases in council rates are passed on to businesses (and landlords) as well as residents, and such costs are passed on to consumers for goods and services – this is what causes inflation.

Now the council could balance the budget by cutting expenses, but I doubt that they even look at this possibility.

Did we really need to send the Mayor overseas at the expense of ratepayers?

Do we need to have legal bills to settle differences between councillors, as in the Alexandrina Council?

This should be paid by those who want the argument, not ratepayers.

Should we add Aboriginal names to street signs (at great expense to ratepayers) to please a few, as the Alexandrina Council has suggested?

We are just getting through a pandemic, and many are just trying to get back on their feet.

Businesses have to budget – it is about time council did the same.

Jack Eskenazi, Mt Barker