Jon Ryan

Reporter

Manningham Leader

20/2/08

Letter to the editor

I refer to your editorial 20^th February (City’s finances win praise)

Manningham council appears to be in great financial health.

We concur with the Auditor-General report praising its operation.

Whilst most council’s preferred to increase their debt Manningham Council has a surplus of $14.5 Million.

At the same time they have stated that they have one of the largest works program in Victoria

They also state that their first priority is infrastructure, Ratepayers Victoria commend the council.

The biggest problem council’s face is the housing boom and keeping up with capitol works

Ratepayers Victoria was impressed with the Submission by Manningham Council

to the Commonwealth inquiry into cost shifting.

This is with out doubt the biggest problem facing all local councils,

 several $Billion has been slashed from local government grants at the same time local council’s have been forced to provide services that would normally be out side of their charter.

The following is an extract from Manningham submission.

Quote” Local Governments collectively receive an average of 3% of national tax revenues generally through the collection of rates. Local Governments are experiencing

A steady decline in funding from State and Federal Government at a time when the State Government has experienced a windfall from GST revenue and has increasingly introduced compliance requirements.

Currently cost shifting by State Government to local Government has been characterised by intrusion into local affairs,  and the  introduction of more and more compliance requirements and lack of indexation of the funding that does exist”  End of Quote

We also noted that Manningham council had a successful public consultation on the budget with residents calling for more investments in services such as aged care.

Congratulations to Manningham Council Keep up the good work and to the residents and Ratepayers get involved in the affairs of Local governments “remember it your money”

Jack Davis

President

Ratepayers Victoria inc.  

RATEPAYERS VICTORIA, Inc. A0040924M - PO BOX 1057 Huntingdale, Victoria 3166