New rates method: Cost Shifting or Class Warfare

The Beagle Editor,

Recently one of our councillors commented in the Bay Post about Cost Shifting saying of the recent issue around a possible rate review to be based on Capital Improvement Value, which really is Governments attempting to renege on their responsibilities. "There appears to be yet another cost-shifting attempt by the state, i.e. the level of government that controls and constrains local government". "However moving to capital improved value is a cost-shifting mechanism (and) another aspect of class warfare." Clr Nathan Bay Post They are saying if communities on Local Council Areas want and require new public assets, Local Councils need to provide the funds for them. Government have, and do, provide the mechanisms for Local Councils to be able to raise more income from their Communities. The idea of changing the rating collection systems to ‘Capital Improved Value’ is about Government who regulate Local Councils changing the processes so Local Councils are able to eventually collect more money from their residents and ratepayers. What hasn’t been talked about is local councils and their ageing populations who usually are fixed income recipient's. Our politicians need to have a rethink about the direction the population is heading in. It’s the politicians who’ve allowed economies to flounder and business and industry to close. It was those businesses and industry that once employed many, in sound economic environments, and assisted in growth naturally.            

Allan Brown

Catalina