Connecting people & communities CRANBOURNE Thursday, 2 June, 2016
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Rates cap’s tight fit By GEORGIA WESTGARTH THE City of Casey’s rate rise will now be capped at 2.5 per cent - but is that common sense or is it economic vandalism? Those are the respective arguments put forward by the Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association (CRRA) and Casey Mayor Sam Aziz in the wake of the rate capping announcement. The Essential Services Commission (ESC) decision to block Casey council’s rate rise application has enraged the City of Casey, which has labelled it as an “infrastructure black hole�, set to hit the region. Casey Council applied for a higher cap of 3.47 per cent, 0.97 per cent higher than the set cap for 2016-’17. After assessment the ESC denied the council’s submission on the grounds of a strong budget position. If approved, homeowners would have paid on average $53 more a year in rates and waste charges. Cr Aziz said the decision would contribute to a $168 million funding shortfall over the next 10 years, despite a statement from the ESC indicating Casey’s history of underspending its capital budget. Local resident and member of the CRRA, Brendan Browne has wel-
Mayor Sam Aziz has turned his mind from graffiti to “economic vandalism�. 149591 comed the ESC’s rejection, calling it a “victory for common sense�. “Mayor Sam Aziz’s talk of an ‘infrastructure black hole’ is just scaremongering,� Mr Browne said.
“It’s disappointing that Casey Council used its time and money to apply for an unnecessary rate increase. “The ESC was very clear that Casey Council would be able to meet all its duties and even pay for its capital
works program in 2016-’17, without the additional rate increase.� A statement from the ESC read: “The Commission found Casey’s overall budget position to be strong
FACTORY DIRECT BLINDS FOR LESS
with various options available to proceed with the two projects it identified, without requiring a higher rate cap in 2016-’17. Continued page 3
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