Cap concern, no concern

I REEL in horror at MP Daniel Mulino (Cap concern rates highly, 11 March) suggesting capping “flexibility“ for Cardinia Council because it is a growth council.
Our council is and has been for so long a trendsetter in debt not because of growth but because it cannot live within its means. Other growth councils manage better, one reason being they have a larger rate base to generate income and budget accordingly.
Cardinia Council is trying to be all things to all people at our expense and the government rates cap is necessary to force council to manage and reduce debt rather than increase it for their next good feeling idea.
In June 2013 council commissioned three arts or sculpture projects (Toomah Community Centre and Henry Road East Children’s Centre, and Gembrook) at a cost of $148,000. Another occurs in Kooweerup this year at $25,000 or $30,000. Small individually, but these little sums add up.
In September 2014 the Gazette reported $3.25 million budgeted over the next three years on a new arts facility – before council even having the recommendation of a $30,000 study as to whether one was needed.
These extravagances abound – the question is whether this largesse is considered by ratepayers as essential for a council $67 million in debt, with the corresponding interest bill adding more unnecessary expense.
Let’s have a second arts facility and our own “Blue Poles” sculptures when we can afford them. It’s not hard, it’s the same way ratepayers have to budget and put money aside to pay their council rates – just a matter of proper priorities.
Forget the cap flexibility Daniel – with this council free range rates are akin to giving an alcoholic the key to the bottle shop.
Brian Hannan,
Emerald.