What is the Fraser Coast Regional Council Doing With Our Money?
What about the $20 million Mr Mayor?
That’s a question that Jim MacKellar would like answered and after reading what he has to say on the subject you might like an answer too.
Because of increased costs and reduced State Government funding the rates on the Fraser Coast must increase by at least 6%. So saith our Mayor.
But what about the $20million that Council has from the last budget and the more than $30million from the year before, Mr. Mayor?
Why should the ratepayers of the Fraser Coast be slugged for an extra $2million when Council was unable to use the amount of money it collected last year?
With the financial year almost complete it is clear that the Fraser Coast Regional Council will under spend its 09/10 budget by more than $20million. Most of this amount will be from uncompleted capital works projects. It was the same last financial year except that it was then in excess of $30million.
So how do they justify once again increasing our rates when it is obvious that they are only going to take the money and invest it. Are they suddenly going to come up with the magical answer that will allow them to complete their Capital Works Program for the first time in living memory?
Instead of considering how much they can get away with increasing the rates would it not be better for them to make a realistic estimate of how much work they will actually complete in the next 12 months and only raise that reduced amount?
Council has made much of their dedication to the economic development of our region. So it must be asked – would money be of greater benefit to the region invested by the Council in its reserves or would it do more good left with the people so that they can use it to purchase goods and services from local businesses? Which of these solutions is the more likely to bring greater prosperity and more jobs to our region?
So it must be asked again – Councillors, where are your priorities? In raising great amounts of money for ‘pie in the sky’ works programs or in achieving the greatest good for the people of the Fraser Coast.
June 16th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
I think the whole lot of them should be sacked and start over with all new faces.couldn;t do any worse than this lot. maybe they could divy up the 20 million excess among the ratepayers ??
July 21st, 2010 at 8:30 pm
I hear on the grapevine that when council meets in maryborough that some get pissed and can’t drive home and either get dial a driver or stay at a motel at ratepayers expense.
July 21st, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Last year council decided to upgrade Beilbi Creek Road with stage 2 of the bitumin program and spent many days getting it prepared at a cost of many thousands of dollars then abandoned the job due to council having insufficent funds to complete job-according to workers on the site, next thing we hear they have $20,000,000 left unspent at he end of financial year,if this is correct maybe someone in council should get the boot as the road mentioned is used by school buses every day including many trucks and is very dangerous in places, moreso after rain, so if any councillor reads this please complete what you started before someone dies in an accident
July 25th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Mike, do you think the council cares what we say in here. They are just like the LABOUR government, they get our money and just waste it as they know we will just have to pay more. It is time they were held accountable for the waste and sacked for doing it. If it was a private company then they would not last long but they just get away with it. Almost time for us to pay rates again so they will have a few more million to waste.
I wish I had a job like them, work when you feel like it, go over seas, all expenses paid. Spend other peoples money and not have a care about it. It must be great.
August 23rd, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I agree with you peter on all counts – At the next local election they will all be gone and we can start again fresh, for the little fish. Belinda will go down a second time then.
September 14th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I also agree with you on all counts – this council has shown themselves to be incompetent to the extreme. They come up with rediculous scheme after stupid idea and who pays for it? us of course. The rates they impose on us (being a recognised low socio-economic area) now are more expensive than many more affluent places in Australia, how sad is that?? (and no, that is not an exaggeration). Our council is greedy, not altogether bright with money management, arrogrant in the way they treat the people who voted them in and are not appropriately held to account for the truely bizzare decisions they make. At the end of the day YES!! the lot of them should be sacked including the CEO and some of the staffers. Start again with a new lot and make them accountable for their decisions and actions.
December 19th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
hi there, are you all living in your own little world.
get out of your homes and see for your self where your money goes. number one on the list, come to the hervey bay council for the arts event on new years eve at scarness park stage area, this is a free event for all to enjoy, with free live entertainment. a huge giant multi draw of over 50 prizes donated by local business. a jumping house for the children and fun and games. lots of careing people put a big effort in to bring these free events to the public, and where are you all. too busy complaining ,when you could be out having fun. and free entertainment for all.
it starts at 5 pm and winds down at 9 pm, so that still gives you time to hurry back home and do some more complaining. may be after visiting this free event, with many to attend every year.you may see the new year in with a better view. you may like to even lend a hand to some of these events, to gain a better understanding. of what council helps with and does do with some of your so called monies. a sausage sizzle, free balloons, give aways, craft sites, and fire works to name some that may be of intrest to you. complaining.
there is also free family events at pier park areas on a sunday. once a month with craft sites available . to the public. they that are in council are accountable for there actions, just as you are. there doing there job. and i think they do it well, with people like you to put up with all the complaining about every thing, and any thing. time you went out and got a life, enjoy your self with a free event, at least then you can see for your self where some of your money goes. your all so good at complaining about council, you may like to enter the talent quest on the evening with $ 500. going to the winner for 1 st prize. come on, have a go. sing a song about the event, you have 3 beautiful minutes to make your clain. as one of the best new talents in the bay. your so good and complaining you should do well. no game no fame. you have to be in it , to win it. i would like to see as many of our bay ites at this event, show your support, so here you are, mayor mick and i will dance on the stage together if we can have 1000 people come to the girls of the council of the arts and say your here to watch mayor mick and janna dance like the good old days.
thats what you will get to see. 2 of the best dancers in the bay.
now thats worth coming out for i recon. please dont complain as so many look forward to these free events the council helps bring to the public to enjoy.
come and have some fun, we will see you there on the 31 st, and remember if you want to see oh micky your so fine dance again, let us know.
thats worth every cent.
from janna
September 28th, 2011 at 7:45 am
I think Janna has lost the plot…..we really aren’t paying Mayor Mick $100k+ per annum to take a turn around the stage with you, dear.
And, really, $20m buys a lot of sizzle in your sausage.
Ratepayers are paying $2000+ per year for infrastructure, services and management of our region, including community events – which should be firing on all four cylinders ….and (clearly) isn’t.
The events Janna refers to are community events, certainly supported by council (which is lovely) but absolutely not funded, nor managed by council. Hard working community volunteers are exactly that….from the community, not the council.
And, there is no point having community events if the populace is too depressed, too poor and too collectively depressed to support them.