Councillors have been away for their ‘budget retreat’ recently. No doubt they have been ‘nursed’ along in the process of determining their ‘priorities’ for the budget. They’ve undoubtedly also wrestled with how to pay off GESAC at the fixed rate of 8.04% for the next 15 years. On top of this there’s the $7.1 million superannuation liability that also has to be paid off. Whilst other councils are contemplating paying this in one lump sum to avoid the high interest repayment, we suspect that Glen Eira does not have this option. Imagine borrowing another $4 million or so – that’s if anyone would even lend them this amount! We’re also pretty confident that the question of a top heavy and extremely well paid administration, plus consultants galore, and an unprecedented and constant staff increase with the advent of Newton, would not have figured prominently in these deliberations! It’s therefore really refreshing to read the following from a Monash City Councillor and makes us contemplate the question – would our councillors dare ask these questions? More importantly, would they ever get the answers?

Source: http://www.monash.vic.gov.au/news/bulletin2013/february/councillor.htm

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