Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart is once again engaging in spin when he accuses the local media of “misinformation” for daring to report (quite accurately) that he has applied to IPART for another rate increase (Hart’s “Coast Connect” column, PP048).
In fact, even IPART itself issued a press release on February 15 confirming that the Council has applied for “a large increase” in rates.
Council’s latest application will slug ratepayers $200M more over the next 10 years than the current status quo position that was approved by IPART just last year.
Mr Hart’s latest attempt at dissembling is part of an ongoing propaganda campaign by a Council that has spent millions of dollars (ironically ratepayers’ money) in publicity, marketing, staff costs, and consultancies campaigning for rate hikes.
It has pioneered a new form of opinion survey in which respondents are fed Council spin before being asked loaded questions.
A clear majority still opposed increasing rates in the most recent surveys.
Community groups have even been sent individually-addressed letters that could be perceived as threatening future funding if they do not write letters to IPART supporting another rate hike.
A self-interested Council bureaucracy, which benefited from a 33 per cent increase in employee costs (salaries, benefits and perks) between 2017 and 2020, is now telling the community the resulting deficits can only be reduced by rate hikes or service cuts.
A better option would be for Mr Hart and his senior managers to work harder to fix a rotten culture, improve Council performance and reduce internal costs.
They should also improve efficiency and productivity which is still lower than five years ago.
It is vitally important that residents now have their say through IPART’s public consultation: IPART.nsw.gov.au
Email, March 1
Kevin Brooks, Bensville
The council has been incompetent and dishonest for years!
Flood mitigation work needs to be urgently undertaken. The only work which has been completed is superficial and on very visible public paths.
I don’t know how they can cut more services..green spaces around Malvina pde Gorokan have only been cut twice in the last year..grass and weeds are up to my knees.. neighbour used a ride on mower to cut park near his home
The lake has not been dredged in years full of dead weeds and black sludge up to knees… Malvina pde has more potholes than road.. nothing has been done in this area in more than two years… still paying my rates will no basic services
What a genius sacrifice staff and raise rates and his exorbitant wage,is this the way lnp get back at rate payers for Gladys stuffed up alamsgation.