Even if Launceston's Aldermen comply with Council management's world view this year, and yet again, the 'RATE DEBATE" is not likely too go away in an election year. There are quite a few long standing Aldermen who are up for election this year if they stand again.Ald Dean for instance is now saying he has "never asserted that the Brighton Model was in contravention of the law" but many ratepayers have different memories. Also, Mr Dobrzynski has canvassed the idea that the so called Brighton Model is in contravention of the law – or words to that effect, and in public if not on the record. Clearly, many ratepayers have defective memories, or short memories, but do they?
If ratepayers think that a flat rate – one that's fair and equitable, one that covers the costs of all services including those some Aldermen and the GM say are regional services unfunded regionally – should have been implemented a long time ago, well are they misguided? If a flat rate had been implemented it is more than likely that there would have been the incentive to mitigate against waste because that kind of mechanism would quite likely expose all kinds of wasteful activities and expenditure, or is that flawed thinking? If so please show us, the ratepayers, compelling evidence for everything staying the same.
Petar Hill
3 comments:
Alderman Dean, since at least 2007 you have been telling us that the Brighton Council's method of flat rating is not in accordance with the legislation.
That Brighton is not acting legally and that their rates could be questioned.
You even said that you would take some sort of action against them to stop them from using this method.
When Frank Dixon was Launceston Manager he also backed you up.
So now you are speaking differently and is this because you are speaking as an MLC?
Ratepayers in Brighton seem very happy, and also at Georgetown.
I am pleased that Glamorgan Spring Bay Council have also chosen a similar flat rate method.
What reason now do you give for denying Launceston Ratepayers this method Alderman Dean?
For years you say in your election campaigns that you will work to make a fairer rates system.
Can you tell us what you have achieved, please?
Yes Max, I was present on at least 2 occasions when Ald Dean said how he opposed what Brighton Council was doing and also Georgetown Council, and he said Georgetown was not a viable Council because of how they collected rates on this basis.
I support you.
Please name all these happy George Town ratepayers! Conversely I know many UNHAPPY GEORGE TOWN RATEPAYERS I'M ONE. The average George Town residential ratepayer pays an equivalent rate of 16c in the dollar of AAV, almost double Launceston's rate, fair & equitable I think NOT. This rate is after extraordinary cross subsidisation by Bell Bay ratepayers who pay 22c in the dollar.
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