Ratepayers greet council squeeze

NEW Knox City Council pledges to cut spending and reduce rate rises have been strongly endorsed by a ratepayers’ group.
Knox Ratepayers Association president Peter Baird said last week that council resolutions passed on Tuesday, 24 January to control expenditure and keep rate rises down were ‘a giant step forward’.
“Council has for the first time committed to trying to keep rate rises within the Consumer Price Index.
“This is a courageous policy which should be the benchmark for all Victorian councils.
“Council has also resolved to try, over time, to reduce the adverse impact of its rates, charges and fees on average households,” he said.
Mr Baird said the council’s aim to place greater emphasis on cost control represented a fresh, ratepayer-friendly approach completely at odds with that of the previous council.
“The thousands of residents and ratepayers who voted for change in the elections last year will be delighted by this strong evidence that real change is taking place in our council,” Mr Baird said.
However, Mr Baird said it was too early to tell whether the council would be able to achieve its aims of delivering essential services while keeping spending under control.
“The signs are good and if they’re followed through on it could be extremely good for the community,” he said.