By STEVE GRAY
MAYOR Peter Petty’s casting vote was all that saved CEO Lotta Jackson’s plan to hike Tenterfield Shire rates by more than 80 per cent over the next decade.
The vote to apply for a Special Rates Variation was tied five to five and it was up to Mayor Petty to decide the issue.
He cast a second vote in favour of the application to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), who will decide the contentious issue.
If successful, rates for Tenterfield Shire ratepayers will increase by 15 per cent in the first year and by 10 per cent for the subsequent three years before returning to the allowable rate peg of three per cent.
The mayor’s casting vote to allow the motion has caused some to question the process.
“What do other people in the shire think of the mayor deciding on this huge rise in our rates?” ratepayer Jack Clarke asked.
“I for one think that as the vote was tied, then the status quo should remain,” Mr Clarke said.
“The vote for (the rates increase) was not successful because there was not a majority.”
After the vote the mayor said the shire was “faced with mounting challenges in maintaining and renewing infrastructure”.
“It is a credit to the council and the community that the hard decisions we have delayed for too long are being made,” Cr Petty said.
“Tenterfield’s Councillors are ratepayers too, and no one likes to have to increase rates, but our road infrastructure and public buildings are aging and in some cases starting to fail.
“If this investment isn’t made and our assets aren’t maintained, we cannot sustain our community and economy.”
Meanwhile opposition group Tenterfield Rates and Anti Amalgamation Forum will not give up the fight, convenor Robert Walker said.
He said the forum is not just opposed to the rates rise plan.
“Another vital need is to compel council to take some heat and belt-tightening just as they are asking us to do.
“We are dedicated to insisting that council submit to a full and independent efficiency audit of councils’ administration branch’s operating methods, staff numbers and ratios, pay scales and all other measurements to identify how their efficiency, or lack of it, compares with a standard model.
“A self-assessment as proposed by the General Manager is not acceptable,” Mr Walker said.
Council must advise IPART of its intention to apply for a Special Rates Variation by 13 December with further details to be submitted by 24 February 2O14.
The tribunal’s decision to refuse the application, accept it, or vary it is expected by mid-June 2O14.
TENTERFIELD Shire Councillors did not request that the vote on rates rises be recorded. Only Cr Blair Maxwell requested that his vote against be recorded.
As far as we can determine:
Votes for: Cr Peter Petty, Cr Gary Verri, Cr Mary Leahy, Cr Donald Forbes, Cr Toni Hull
Votes against: Cr Carol Schiffmann, Cr Mike Petrie, Cr Blair Maxwell, Cr Brian Murray, Cr Tom Peters
Mayor Peter Petty then cast his vote for the rates rise plan, breaking the deadlock.
