The angry ratepayers

Launceston Municipal Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association Inc. Media Release

“Hopefully, somewhere, some time, Launceston will take a reality check and budget its expenditure on what the community can afford for basic services rather than expand an ever-growing wish-list of non-core activities that ratepayers can not, and should not, have to pay for. Forthcoming elections will give ratepayers an opportunity to express their discontent in a meaningful way,” he concluded.

19th July, 2007

Angry Launceston ratepayers condemned the Launceston City Council for recent rates increases, particularly the volumetric charge for water, at last night’s monthly meeting at the West Launceston Bowls Club.

The Association’s Senior Vice-President, John Henshaw said:

“Our members are disappointed, to say the least, that the Association’s submissions to Council have fallen on deaf ears. There seems to be no appreciation by Council executives and Aldermen that ratepayers are being taxed beyond their capacity to pay. Launceston is a high-taxing, high-spending council. The average residential rate is 4.16% of average household income and this is well above the Tasmanian average. It is almost three-and-a-half times that of Hobart which has an average income almost 18.0% more than Launceston’s average income. But, of course, Hobart is not burdened with the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, York Park and, soon, the Regional Aquatic Centre”.

“These facts, and other pertinent information, are embodied in a comprehensive submission the Association has made to the Australian Government’s Productivity Commission investigating the capacity of local councils to raise revenue and the impacts of various taxes. We look forward to a round-table conference with the Commission to enlarge upon our submission,” John Henshaw said.

“Hopefully, somewhere, some time, Launceston will take a reality check and budget its expenditure on what the community can afford for basic services rather than expand an ever-growing wish-list of non-core activities that ratepayers can not, and should not, have to pay for. Forthcoming elections will give ratepayers an opportunity to express their discontent in a meaningful way,” he concluded.

The submission, number 10 of 36, can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.pc.gov.au/study/localgovernment/subs/sublist.html

LAUNCESTON MUNICIPAL RATEPAYERS’ AND RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED

PO BOX 2039, NEWNHAM 7248

email: projex.pty.ltd@bigpond.com