Dear Sir
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Recent media statements have been critical of the amalgamation of Wellington and Dubbo councils.
I wish to join with the current mayors of both councils in opposing this merger.
Apart from the obvious mistakes in the released report by Minister for Local Government, Paul Toole very little research has appeared regarding rates, apart from rates being frozen for four years should the amalgamation occur.
Wellington ratepayers beware! After four years your rates will rise substantially.
The urban rate for Wellington is on average $750 p/a. The average urban rate for Dubbo is $1250 p/a. Urban rates can be varied by councils at the flick of a pen.
Logically, the urban rate will rise for Wellington, anyone who knows a council can see that.
If the urban rates for Dubbo and Wellington are equalised, and I can see no reason why this wouldn't happen, then the urban rate for Wellington would almost double.
Of course, no council or councillor would do this rate increase in one year, they would spread the "pain" over two maybe three years as they would want to be re-elected for starters.
The bottom line is this, most residential rates in Wellington would double.
Financially many residents are finding it hard to meet the current rate imposts, how will they cope in four years' time? Wellington will be crippled by this amalgamation and the rate increases that will eventuate.
The cynic in me says that in four years' time, when this rate rise happens, it would be after a state election, with Premier Baird and Paul Toole no doubt being re-elected.
How convenient for them to blame councils for rate rises and not the state in that term of government.
Amalgamation has come about because of state government cost shifting with councils having to pay for more while the state pays less. The state government further restricts councils to be "fit" financially by imposing rate pegging.
Finally, the report states that amalgamation will bring about savings by paying less in councillor's fees. Over 20 years, Dubbo and Wellington will save $500. Wow! I've done the maths, 50 cents per resident annually. It would take you eight years to buy a coffee - hardly a saving.
Yours sincerely,
RICHARD MUTTON
Former Deputy Mayor, Dubbo City Council
Former Chairman of Finance and Policy for
Dubbo City Council for six years.