Tamworth resident David Foster says ratepayers must act now if they don’t want council to impose an extra rate rise to build a “war chest”.
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RATEPAYERS could be called on to find a further $100 a year each to help fund Tamworth Regional Council’s (TRC) deluded plans to help fund a prison and a massive biogas facility costing around $300 million.
Council reckon $15 million is a fair enough sum to gouge out what’s left in our wallets after federal and state taxes have been ripped out of them.
How do you, my fellow ratepayers, feel about yet another grab for cash by the TRC?
This council is just going to go on gouging more and more money from ratepayers if some stance is not made by what seems to be an apathetic community.
TRC has already been granted an approval for an 11 per cent increase in rates and now, 18 months later, it’s going for another 7 per cent for something it calls a “war chest”.
What benefits from your increasing rates are you enjoying lately?
Are the roads better? Is the city safer?
Can you still dispose of the things at the tip that you used to, or do you find that the charges at the tip add up to more than the stuff you want to tip cost when you bought it?
Are the parks and public spaces better?
Of course Scully Park is going to look really nice for people staying in the new motel because TRC is donating $160,000 to the club to beautify the iconic, volunteer-constructed oval that is now being destroyed, thanks to the TRC.
Mayor Col Murray says that a whole 600 people were asked by the council whether they would mind paying higher rates, and would you believe over half of them said yes?
That must have been the half from upper East. What about the other 49,400 souls which reside in the Tamworth regional electorate?
There must be about 12,000 breadwinners out there who might conceivably have a different response.
Here’s the thing folks – council cannot get permission from IPART to implement these rate hikes unless the majority of us make it clear that we think we pay enough tax in this place.
They haven’t asked me if I agree that higher rates are OK and I’ll bet that you haven’t been asked either, so please let TRC know before December 10 that you do not agree to a higher rating regimen.
If you sit on the fence and don’t say something Murray can go to IPART and say that the majority of ratepayers in this region agree that higher rates would a good thing.
How do you have your say?
Well, that’s a difficult question because CrMurray is a bit uncomfortable about listening to people’s concerns.
Are the councillors listening?
What do you think?
Cr Mark Rodda has at least stood up for ratepayers but he seems to have been put on notice by the backroom boys just lately.
I think that all you can do is to write a letter or send an email addressed to the GM of the TRC or even better, email the editor of The Northern Daily Leader expressing your concern.
Do it before December 10.