Mayor4Unley

At this week's Unley Council meeting, a low rate rise of 2.2% was endorsed; at the expense of debt that is forecast to climb to a whopping $17m by June 2017. I argued against this increase in debt whilst keeping a low rate rise. I called it fiscal irresponsibility ; and it is. The motion for a low 2.2% rate rise passed with a slim majority. On the home front, we would not (or should not) increase our debt to reduce the yearly repayment. That's what has happened. The low rate rise means that Unley is transferring the financial burden to our children and to us as we age; at a time when we can least afford it. The low rate rise also will impact the financial viability of future projects across Unley. I suggest that over the next 2 years Unley cuts the big projects and works on reducing the $17m debt. Projects that would be affected by a delay are Unley Oval redevelopment, King William Road upgrade, Millswood Sporting complexes, ... anything with a hefty price tag. It...

Councillor Jennie Boisvert wrote on her blog a summary of Unley's proposed rate increase. The proposed rate increase is 2.2%. Her argument (and that more strongly of Councillor Mike Hudson) is to increase the rate rise to say 3% to reduce the growing debt; the increase in debt is primarily to fund the major roadworks along Goodwood Road. The rationale for servicing the roadworks only by debt was to share the burden of cost for major projects over future years ie. to share the burden across the generations. The issue is that the current generation (of rate payers) will not be contributing in the first year. There is reasonable rationale for a modest increase in rates so that the debt is reduced. Keeping it below 3% is a must! Here's what Jennie blogged Go to the Unley website and have your say about the rate rise

This week I had a letter published in the Eastern Courier Messenger. I’m annoyed that they removed two sentences and I'm sure that it wasn't to save space. Here is the full version … I may not be popular with some of my fellow Unley Councillors, but I believe we need to review the IT equipment provided to Elected Members (and funded by the ratepayers). Currently Councillors receive a telephone line, a fax machine, a notebook PC, software, an iPad, a colour printer, a modem and an Internet service. That is excessive and unwarranted. I use my own PC, software and printer funded by my modest Council allowance. I have never requested a PC or printer. I have asked the Unley CEO to review the list of equipment available to Councillors. We need to do that now, prior to the election. That may need a policy revision. Some Councillors may squirm at the suggestion, but let's face it - during the approaching Caretaker period, they will not be permitted to use Council ass...

The advertiser reported on the carbon tax and challenged Unley Council to refund the 'tax' collected. Absolute nonsense. Unley simply monitored the impact of the tax and made up for the impact. Cr Don Palmer has provided a good account. Read  his blog here.