J Mackintosh

The report in the March 6 Beacon, written by Diane McCarthy, on the meeting of the council to discuss the annual plan has given me much to think about.

Just how serious is council with its effort to reduce the increase in rates?

A direction to councillors from the mayor – “we must try to make things as affordable for our communities as possible”.

“Try to.” Not very convincing.

And then, a statement from the finance general manager regarding the council’s effort to reduce its operating deficit, “this would see council possibly returning to a balanced budget by 2029”.

How long would a company last with a prediction of a possible balanced budget? At the meeting, a rates-funded contingency fund to “allow for unforeseen interest rate rises” was accepted by a majority of the councillors.

Does it not occur to those councilllors that ratepayers will have to cope personally with any such contingencies and, in many cases, would be less able to do so?

The two councillors who voted against the contingency fund were Andrew Iles and Gavin Dennis: two councilllors who, once again, persuade me they are sincere in their concern for ratepayers and have the courage to express it.