Fines loom for non-voters
Picture: Gary Sissons
FRANKSTON residents who chose not to vote in last year’s council elections will be sent “please explain” notices by the Victorian Electoral Commission. The VEC says it may send an infringement notice and a penalty of $83 to anyone who doesn’t respond to the letter, or doesn’t provide a sufficient reason for not voting. Around 350,000 letters will be sent out statewide. The letters are due back to the VEC within 28 days.
“This notice is not a fine. It’s your chance to explain why you appear not to have voted, if this is the case. This is a question that must be asked of those who appear not to have voted,” electoral commissioner Warwick Gately said. “Please complete and send the notice back within the 28-day timeframe so that we can consider your explanation.” Total voter turnout in Frankston for the 2020 council elections was 79.35 per cent of eligible voters, an improvement on the 2016 election.
New councillors propose rate cut No shire compo for firefighters A RATE cut has been discussed by Frankston councillors, although it would come at a huge estimated cost to council’s budget. New councillors Steven and Liam Hughes have proposed that ordinary rates be slashed by greater than or equal to 1 per cent. Council officers estimate that the proposed cuts would cost council up to $30 million over the next decade. The motion prepared by Crs Hughes reads “Frankston residents are the highest paying ratepayers in our region when considering median house prices and average household incomes.” “The budgeted adjusted underlying result for [the 2021/2022 financial year] will be required to run at a surplus even with the reduction in rate revenue. This is to make sure that the budgeted financial result in FY21/22 isn’t run at a deficit due to budgeted lower rate income. Understanding that
the above may impact the revenue for the FY21/22 budget, council may seek to reduce budgets for departments. As we are both new councillors we are not 100 per cent certain of the structuring of budgets at council and whether budgets are done by department and we are happy to take council’s advice on this,” the motion reads. Council’s chief financial officer Kim Jaensch wrote in the council agenda “first and foremost, it needs to be stated that Frankston City Council rates are not higher than average in comparison to other Melbourne councils and are in fact generally lower particularly when comparing residential rates to other councils in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs. The average valuation however in Frankston is generally lower than many of these councils and significantly lower in comparison to inner Melbourne bayside suburbs. The average residential valuation in
Stonnington (Toorak) for example is approximately $1.3M as compared to the average valuation in Frankston which is $580,000. This means that for Frankston City Council to raise a similar amount in rates as other councils (for it to provide a similar level of local government services) it must use a higher rate in the $ which is applied to the valuations. This results in an outcome where a $1M property in Frankston will pay significantly higher rates than a $1M property in Toorak.” “Viewed over several financial years, the implications of this NOM are extremely significant and will impact on councils future ability to both provide services and deliver key community infrastructure projects,” she wrote. A vote on the motion will be held on Monday night, shortly after publication deadline. Brodie Cowburn
MORNINGTON Peninsula ratepayers will not have to pay $10,000 to Rye CFA because of a “muck-up” by a “junior officer”. The CFA was told by the officer on behalf of the shire that it could not hold its annual tin rattle because of safety issues. CFA volunteers traditionally approach motorists for donations every January at the corner of Dundas Street and Nepean Highway. The shire, after “banning” the tin rattle, later admitted its traffic and transport team did not have the power to stop the collection. It said there had been a mix up, and the decision was a police matter. But this was cold comfort to the CFA, whose captain, Glenn Diamond, said members had been looking forward to the day and the usual banter with motorists. He said the tin rattle had been a major fundraiser for more than 10 years
usually raised about $10,000. At the council’s Tuesday 9 February meeting Cr David Gill said it was necessary to “look after our volunteers … especially those that put their lives at risk”. The loss of income meant the CFA would be unable to buy new equipment. C Gill said the $10,000 was “on a very small scale for us to recompence what was a muck-up. “I’ve been told [by council officers that it wasn’t a muck-up - well I think it was”. CEO John Baker confirmed that a council officer sent a letter “denying the right” for the CFA to conduct its tin rattle. Councillors rejected Cr Gill’s motion to pay the CFA and compensate any other volunteer organisation that protected community health and safety but were unable to hold roadside collections because of COVID-19. Keith Platt
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Frankston Times
16 February 2021
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