Money, money, money, money………..
Published 11 months, 1 week ago in Where I Live.In its last ‘financial statement’ ending October 31st, Glen Eira reports a budget surplus yet again! Most of this is the result of ‘user fees & charges’. So, what does a good council do? Return this ‘dividend’ to ratepayers via reducing some fees and charges? Of course not!!! The latest ‘rise’ to hit ratepayers is an increase in parking fees, because now they can, and to charge for Australia Day Breakfasts @ $30 a head!!!! Please note, that for the latter, there are plenty of councils who provide this AT NO CHARGE TO RESIDENTS. Once more Glen Eira displays its true colours!
1 Response to “Money, money, money, money...........”
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I am surprised that you’re surprised. I wonder if pensioner and student concession apply to a breakfast costing $30. Very expensive toast and coffee! very expensive eggs and bacon which can be bought at most deli for less than $10. Who is profiting - not even attempting to break even, but to profit?
It would be interesting to know whether the expense of salaries incurred in raising the revenue from user fees and charges is attributed to that line. Does it cost $5 million in salaries and ongoing costs like superannuation, to raise $4 million in revenue? How would we know? When the Chart of Accounts does not clearly follow back to the Budget allocations in a readable fashion, anything can happen and probably does….
If $3 million recouped from the Sale of Land can be termed “surplus to budget” within 3 months of the budget being adopted, again how we know? Knowing that Council just assumes ownership of the surplus to spend on “capital works” of an unknown quality just beggars disbelief in how a Council operates on behalf of residents.