Carol Altmann – The Terrier
It has been a huge couple of weeks (months/year!), so I am taking a few days off from writing to catch my breath, do some tidying up around the place, and just hang out in the kennel reading “Dog’s Life” magazines.
Take care of yourselves, mask up, dance (I do, every day, for 15 minutes, as if nobody is watching), and know that we are all in these strange times together.
Back early next week.
DOWN TIME: The Terrier is taking a bit of a breather, to recharge and refuel.
Foxy, however, has been unable to squeeze two or three timely facts into her doggy bag, so she is leaving them behind.
Here is the first: Moonee Valley Council has 906 full-time equivalent staff. W’bool City Council has 390. MVC has 32 corporate credit cards. WCC has 81.
MVC has a collective limit on these cards of $269,000. WCC won’t reveal its collective limit, but one card alone chewed up $40,000 in 18 months.
Here is the second: Warracknabeal Council has 104 full time equivalent staff and one credit card. The annual spend is $9000.
(Thanks to Ratepayers Victoria for passing on these two facts – RV is asking all councils how many cards they have, and their annual spend.)
And here is a final fact: the $1476 dinner at Pippie’s was a Sister-City function for Miura, Japan, says Cr Mike Neoh, who was part of that event. Cr Neoh says he paid $83 toward the final bill that more than covered his share. (Cr Neoh doesn’t drink alcohol).
Even though it was an official council function, Cr Neoh said he decided to pay something. (“Why? Good question. Might be a cultural thing,” he said via email.)
An even better question is why, when asked, didn’t the council just say it was a Sister City function?
Why all the secrecy and side-stepping?
No wonder Barry needs a break. The Terrier will be back on deck shortly after 5 October, all revved up and ready to roll.
See you then!
The Terrier – Carol Altmann
LAST DRINKS: Tonight (25/2/19) the W’Bool City Council voted 5/2 to try and raise rates above the cap because we are apparently in deep financial do-do.
It is just three months since W’bool City Council CEO Bruce Anson retired – he spent 11 years at the helm, passing each performance review with flying colours, and earning a salary package that toward the end was close to $320,000 a year.
You earn this kind of money for a reason – to keep the ship in shape.
We are now being told we can’t afford to renew our infrastructure, basic things like bridges and footpaths. We are being told we might need to cut services, because we are ‘aspirational’ and want things like a new library and a better sports oval.
There has been so, so much waste and it has happened on Mr Anson’s watch.
Loud applause to Cr Peter Hulin and Mayor Tony Herbert for voting against this rate rise, in favour of a forensic audit of council spending and costs.
An audit is so long overdue.
I hope the Essential Services Commission – which has to approve the rate rise above the cap – sends this strong message to the council too: you can’t keep asking ratepayers for more, when you have wasted so much along the way.
The time for reckoning has come.
The Terrier is taking a closer look at how we went from budget stability to a budget emergency. It is a slog through some pretty dry data, but worth it. Stay tuned for updates.