When council borrows money to pay for new long term projects the burden of repayments is spread across generations of ratepayers which mean that those future generations who benefit from the project also contribute to its cost. That is fair. Using savings to finance projects places the cost completely on the current generation. That is unfair.

Brian Walker

SPENDING ratepayers money is an important issue for all communities in the current economic climate.

As revenue from rates is used for operational expenses, it’s a difficult issue to comment on. However, developments undertaken by council that necessitate an increase to rates are definitely up for discussion.

I believe Council developments should be primarily about addressing the needs of the majority.

Developments about the wants of a minority, requiring an increase to our rates in order to recoup the cost or to repay a grant, should be heavily scrutinised and modified appropriately to ensure benefits to the wider community.

Projects such as rural road repairs and maintenance, local traffic solutions for the Highway and Bridgman Rd intersection and long-term planning for a bypass have greater merit than beautifying the main street. Importantly, projects like these provide benefits for the whole community and would not require significant increases to rates.

Paul Nichols

ANY spending of ratepayers money needs to be done with full consultation and an open book.

Councillors need to know if the spending is right and that council can afford to do it.

At times council can say yes and other times council has to make the hard decision to say no.

If the decision involves a rate increase we really have to determine if this is what the people want.

There are times when we need to say yes such as the instance with Mt Royal Road in which the project needed $140,000 but we were told by council staff that there was only $30,000. There are times when council has to find the money for the sake of the ratepayers involved.

I believe we need to be conservative with our spending and not just spend money because we have it and to look at each project that comes to us on its individual merit.

Sue Moore

SPENDING of rate-payer’s money is always a concern to me. I look at each dollar as if it were coming from my pocket.

I do not agree with an extra ordinary rate increase to help pay for the $8 million CBD streetscape. I do not support extra ordinary rate increases in general as I feel this places an extra burden on all the community, Council needs to spend within it’s means as each of us as individuals must do.

I am very aware of the demand on council funds and to some extent this is caused by cost shifting from the State government.

I support the rate pegging limit—should this be removed I believe there would be no stopping a council “wish list”.

I support commonsense budgeting that is expected by the community as a whole and also acquiring government and/or corporate grants/sponsorship to achieve a down scaled version of streetscape plan.

Val Scott

RATEPAYERS money is exactly that, where money is allocated needs to be weighed up very carefully by all concerned. One must treat the funds as if they were ones own, budget carefully and be frugal. Live within our means.

Ratepayers need to know that their hard earned money, paid in rates has the ability to provide them with the infrastructure they require to live and play in Singleton.

Should council fail to recognise this requirement of the ratepayers, then it has failed. Ratepayers have pointed out to me that it is of little use having all these homes built but no infrastructre to support the residents.

Value for money is what they are seeking, not trying to be the best or have the best, but have the most functional and necessary infrastructure to enable them to maintain their simple lifestyle.

To quote " we are not a lake side town" where alfresco dining is prevelant.

Rate hikes for the latter is not acceptable.

Lee Gallagher

RATEPAYERS pay their rates to council and expect, even demand, that council provide the essential services that council has always delivered. Yet, all residents, as well as ratepayers, are wanting more services from council.

Yet, elected councillors have to make decisions that will provide these services to all on a cost effective basis. Whether it be roads, parks and facilities, bridges, drainage or even the library or gym and swim centre, all council’s existing assets and future assets are mainly funded through the collection of rates.

I believe that, in allocating ratepayers’ money to council’s services, there needs to be a cost benefit in any work that is to be carried out by council staff and/or contractors. That is why Singleton has an envied road network, improved drainage systems, water infrastructure and a great library available to all. I will never waste ratepayers’ funds on non-compliant developments. Providing facilities for the community pro-actively is the way forward.

Godfrey Adamthwaite

SPENDING the ratepayer's money, not unlike spending my own money, I am a ratepayer.

Council rates and charges fall in to the category of certainties of life, as are paying taxes and death. When they are due you have to pay up, so they need to be spent wisely not willy-nilly.

Therefore my attitude to spending the ratepayer's money is one of careful consideration and vigorous investigation as to why the money is to or has to be spent or if at all.

I would definitely ask myself are there any other alternatives to spending the ratepayer's money? Can the end result be achieved by other means or by raising money by other means?

I would not condone wasting the ratepayer's money by stupid or miss informed decisions, and lastly I would never knowingly waste ratepayer's money on D/A's that have been recommended for refusal by council officers, which I am led to believe has happened in the past four years.

Colby Crane

THE spending of ratepayer’s money is always a sensitive and contentious issue.

It’s a reality that landowners must pay rates to supply essential provisions, nevertheless, it can be frustrating when this amount always seems to rise and essential services remain stagnant.

Singleton Council has in place strict guidelines concerning its financial accountability.

However, it can be hard to see where your money is being spent, especially when you have a particular opinion on how funds should be allocated.

What must be recognised though, is that another ratepayer will have a different opinion that’s just as important as yours.

The reality is that at no time will the whole of the Singleton community be completely happy with any decision that is made within council, especially when it comes to their hard earned dollars.

All that can be done is to trust the chosen representatives to be responsible in listening to the community’s concerns and allocate funds accordingly.

Matthew Vercoe

SINGLETON Council provides many goods and services for our community.

On the whole I believe our rates are spent well.

My attitude to the spending of our rates is that, it is essential but that my role as a councillor will be to ensure that the maximum return for our money is obtained. Money that is spent on goods, services and projects needs to be measured by the importance, the efficiency and finally the return and need to the community.

An example will be the proposed street scape project. As a large spending project, this will need to be carefully reviewed to ensure our money is not wasted and that there will be a return to the whole community.

Finally, I am also keen to see rates kept at an affordable level for working families, the retired and business owners. Annual increases in rates will need to be kept to a minimum so I am also keen, that above all else, essential goods and services such as roads, parks, water, waste and emergency services are funded before money is diverted to other less essential areas.

Fred Harvison

EACH year council establishes its management plan, and budget, for the ensuing year. This is a fairly detailed process with input from all areas within council’s operations, with the final decision being left to councillors to determine.

The maximum amount that council can charge for rates is subject to rate pegging by the state government, usually in line with the CPI. However there are always areas impacting on council’s expenditure that exceed the capped limit, such as insurance premiums, fire brigade levy, street lighting charges.

That is why it is necessary for a strategic approach to be taken towards the spending of ratepayers’ money through the management plan and budgetary process.

I despair when I see ratepayers’ money wasted on legal costs due to an ad hoc approach to a planning matter, or in an attempt to ‘oil a squeaky wheel’, without proper consideration of the issues and the proffered advice.

Bob Weir

IT is my firm belief that councillors need to ensure that ratepayers’ money is being used effectively and efficiently and can justify the spending is in the interests of meeting the needs of the residents of Singleton.

The short-term operating budget and long-term capital investment plans are the engines that drive local government. The operating budget is the primary mechanism for providing public services and must demonstrate transparency and accountability for decisions made during the budget process.

The long term plan invests in infrastructure to secure Singleton’s long-term sustainable growth. We have to get this right, because if we want to enjoy living in a vibrant, modern town we need to have first class infrastructure which is not going to become an economic burden on ratepayers. I am a ratepayer too and like you I want to see my dollars being spent wisely to provide for both today’s needs and for the future.

Mick McCrone

WE are all aware that councils, in the main, gather their funds from rates.

That being the case spending of these funds must be relevant, fair and transparent.

Singleton has just been judged the most liveable town in the Hunter.

With the growth within our community more infrastructure has to be installed, roads, footpaths, parks, children play areas all come at a price, plus the maintenance. Parts of our town do not have footpaths, which forces people, in some cases, having to negotiate unmowed and uneven areas. Some residents however may wish to keep their well tendered areas, instead of a strip of concrete. As I have already stated spending must be for the greater good of the community and council must keep the future in mind.

Mark Lyons

MY attitude to spending ratepayer’s money is that it is done frugally, accountably and consultatively, with the future of the Shire and its families squarely in mind.

Many New South Wales councillors forget that the money council spends, is not all it’s own but ratepayers money entrusted to them for the betterment of residents.

Ratepayer’s money should be;

•Allocated fairly across the Shire on the basis of priority of need.

•Spent to improve roads and footpaths (such as Bridgman road), giving residents of all areas better and safer access to homes, schools, businesses and shops.

•Spent to improve parks, providing safer playing areas, walkways and cycleways.

•Spent to improve cultural facilities to enable us to enjoy a wide range of arts and music in functional, enjoyable surroundings.

I believe that council, like everyone must live within its means, this requires councillors to listen to the people before spending.

Greig Delaney

AS a rate payer I believe you only get what you pay for.

The amount we pay as rates are only ever going to increase, as does the cost of running and maintaining our town.

Every body will believe that their issue is the most important. This is where council comes in.

On actual money spent a majority will realize the essentials and they will be covered and done properly.

The money must be spent to keep our town in pristine condition, while leaving monies for improvements.

Fuel increases flow through to road repairs, Workers Compensa-tion continuing to increase, insurance costs increase every year along with total costs of every single commodity. We need to spend monies wisely.

As a rate payer you can have your objections heard and you can also provide an alternative.

Then we can move forward together.

Maxine Smith

My attitude to the spending of rate payers’ money is that we need to know who, and what it is used for.

Is it for the benefit of the whole of Singleton or just a small few, will this mean an increase in our rates or will they stay the same?

As a person involved in the welfare field, I am not a fan of money spent on management flash cars, not required or worth while conferences with too many people attending.

In my field we like to see the money is spent on the clients or in this case the community and the community can see it, and benefit from it.

I pay rates, and at times I struggle to pay what seems like an ever increasing amount for not much return.

I think that it is important for the community to see that return, not always by flash buildings and large structures with grand openings, but by all people being able to access, walk, wheel or be pushed on a even foot paths. It sounds simple and not exciting, but this will benefit us all and I as a rate payer can see that benefit.

John Martin

DEVELOPMENT and expansion is not only about new subdivision and industry expansion, but rather about a balance of services for both town and country. This includes all essential items, plus what we can afford as extras.

My view is the balance begins by providing services, water, sewage, waste collection and others which will enable the community to live, work, be properly housed at a cost everyone can afford.

I support development and expansion and have been doing this as a councillor for many years. I can look back and see the progress Singleton has made to this point at a reasonable cost.

I can also look forward to the future and believe that this progress will continue. Some people have the view that we have a low rate structure compared to similar sized towns.

We should be proud of this and with sound financial management and sensible expectations, this will continue well into the future.

Lyn MacBain

SOMETHING worth remembering; I am a ratepayer.

If I keep in mind that every dollar spent by council is coming out of my pocket it tends to keep things in prospective.

Like most ratepayers, I have expectations. I expect essential services, infrastructure to meet our future needs, the wish list to materialise occasionally and something put aside for a rainy day.

The challenge is getting the balance right and enough eggs in each basket without increasing rates or borrowing.

As a councillor my responsibility is to ensure that both debt and expenditure is spread fairly and equitably over the whole shire.

I believe extraordinary rate rises to pay for borrowings must only be pursued with discretion for essential services. I believe the wish list must always come second to our needs list. The old proverb look after the pennies and the pounds will come; sounds too simple but it’s true.