[Greens-Media] PARNELL: If Council Rates Are Capped, Cuts Will Follow

[Taylor, Sam]

For Messenger / local papers    Friday 7th March 2014
If Council Rates Are Capped, Cuts Will Follow

The Liberal Opposition's plans to cap Council rates will hurt local communities and force a reduction in services, says Parliamentary Leader of the Greens SA, Mark Parnell MLC.

"Rates are the primary source of income for local government. Preventing elected Councils from determining appropriate local rates is undemocratic and unduly restricts Councils' ability to provide local infrastructure and services.

"This means less street repairs, footpaths, libraries, parks, animal management and the hundreds of other tasks undertaken by local Councils.
"In a democracy, voters elect representatives to make decisions about how much money should be raised and then spent on public services.  If politicians get it wrong, they get voted out.  It's the same for Federal, State and Local Government.

"Local elected members, responsible to their communities, are best placed to determine rates.  It's a balancing act and local Councils know it. If they get it wrong, they get voted out.

"In Parliament, the Greens have been consistent supporters of local authority in areas such as town planning, waste management and development control.
"Local Government is far more in touch with the needs of its local community that the State Government.  Councils should be left to sort out their own priorities and how to pay for them.  The State Government should get out of the way and leave them to it.

"With the Liberals set to cut State spending, there is no chance of Councils receiving top-ups from the State Government to fill the funding shortfall.  Local communities will be the losers," concluded Mark Parnell.


For further information contact Mark Parnell: 0439 215 937



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