The services provided by council are the same for almost every street in every town and village in the district. Roads, water infrastructure, rubbish collection and for several streets leaf collection during late Autumn. That's the bare basics. What we all probably agree as the councils core services. Then we can add in municipal assets and their ongoing expenses (town pools, halls, heritage structures and the like). After all of that, there is the operating expenses expected for all organisations (salaries etc)...
So when, and how, did everything get so out of control? When, and how, did being the districts social watchdog become a council service, instead of limiting themselves to maintaining our district?
When, and why, did rates stop being a payment towards the basic core services I listed first and instead became a demand based on the value of a property? The services haven't changed. But the ideas from council for bigger, better, brighter has…
CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE
We have an ageing population. Everyone would agree with that statement. It's in the spatial plan proposal. It's in reports. It's in the media.
Many of our older citizens are independent. They are social. They are old school…
They are less likely to ask for help.
Some of them will be struggling to pay the extra rates demand.
Some will cut back even more on basic living expenses.
Some will be forced to sell their homes…
Have councils (and by extension us by not standing up) created a new demographic of homeowners who no longer feel welcome in their own town?
Have unprecedented rates increases caused an unforeseen life changing problem for our most senior citizens?
Who benefits from the flow on effect of the rates increases on our older community?
We already know who will lose…
