The Warrnambool Ratepayers Association are very disappointed that a recommendation is going before Council on Monday night for Councillors to vote on applying for an increase of 2% above CPI for the next four financial years. Prior to CPI being introduced our Council rates increased by a massive 28.4% over 5 years, on the back of this WRA is asking for a 10% reduction in Rates. Council needs to be able to work within the constraints of rate capping, and we are asking why is this vote happening prior to the new CEO being installed in January? Are we showing him that we have no confidence in his ability to run an efficient operation, Councillors need to instruct the new CEO to find efficiencies, currently 47% of the Council total expenditure is spent on wages. Why should Ratepayers be burdened with these increases because of the failure or Council to reign in costs, many people in Warrnambool are doing it tough with the fourth highest utility disconnection rate in the state. This is totally unacceptable and unsustainable!
