Our local council stinks. They positively suck.
They have just released their draft budget and it is a disaster.
Over 30% rate increase for commercial and industrial properties in one hit - BAM!
No cuts to their staffing levels (increases in fact); no cutting the fat on their pie-in-the-sky grand dreams; no fiscal responsibility except for no increase in borrowings.
I have never seen this community so incensed; business is not healthy here and costs are increasing on many levels. Yet council think business is booming and can afford to plug their black hole in the budget.
Over 170 submissions were received on the draft budget which is an unprecedented number. 12 of us took the opportunity to speak to our submissions at a special meeting. Most of those 12 were reps from business groups, traders groups etc from throughout the Shire. Every submitter clearly sold their message - don't adopt this budget.
The councilors and executive officers just sat there like stunned mullets throughout the meeting.
There are a whole stack of guidelines (rules) for public participation in these meetings...all sorts of 'don'ts'. You can't take placards, signs etc in, you have to be respectful, you have to remain quiet and peaceful...blah blah blah....
So I abided by the rules - I wore my placard as a dress. A large horse feed sack with a message scrawled across my back so the public galley could see it "the shirt off my back". I did turn around so the councilors could see the message also...
I delivered a right proper tirade to council; using their own inept figures and questioned why lots of money had disappeared into a big black hole (millions in fact). I threw their own 'facts' back at them; totally discredited them and watched them squirm.
I am SO BLOODY ANGRY with this lot....if they pass this budget they are not going to know what's hit them.
So now I'll be known as that woman who wore a horse feed sack to council to deliver her message; one that got a standing ovation from the gallery (I am the lucky one who has received the only 2 standing ovations in the history of public participation at council meetings)...that's a good thing.
Before you ask - no pics as we are not allowed cameras at council meetings
