Forum –
There is nothing like an increase in rates to stir up the silent majority, including myself.
More than 10,000 people did the online survey, another 15,000 (so far) have signed the e-petition and social media is abuzz.
Mr Persson and his new management team are pursuing the legal solution to this financial crisis.
However, I believe that there are fundamental principles that are being swept under the carpet and which should be investigated.
The NSW Auditor General, the Office of Local Government and past Administrators, CEOs and DFOs have all had skin the game.
They all knew something was wrong with Council’s official financial statements, but they didn’t dig deep enough until it was too late.
In a nutshell, it appears that Council’s financial staff didn’t present the correct totals in past financial statements, pre-amalgamation.
This resulted in the official bottom line showing $129.5M more than the real figure.
This mistake was carried over in the following years and Council’s new management probably didn’t realise the problem until March 2020, when the Auditor General started asking difficult questions.
According to the Auditor General’s report, the illegal spending of restricted funds goes back to Gosford Council in 2001.
Can someone please explain what was happening?
On top of these mistakes, Council’s management went on an uncontrolled spending spree, increased staff numbers and amalgamation expenses were not properly budgeted from the beginning.
Most of the councillors appear to have been blind to what was happening until the Council could no longer pay wages ($6.2M).
Whilst Mr Persson has done a great job in getting the Council back on track, it appears that ratepayers do not have the full picture.
We need a Judicial Inquiry to make the cohort of public servants accountable.
Email, Feb 19
Graham Hankin, Chittaway Point
In regard to the forced amalgamation of the two CC Councils by NSW State Govt.This was not the only forced amalgamation by them so it would be reasonable to compare the outcome of all such amalgamations to see how CCC fared in the process.
As much as it seemed a good idea, what cost benefit evaluations was carried out by the State Govt for their plans,how did they determine what financial and human resources would be required, what expertise did they bring to the table to assist these amalgamations.
Hopefully the Judicial Inquiry might give us some answers to the above.