A Rates Revolution

The following comes from this week's Oakleigh-Monash Leader newspaper -

FURIOUS ratepayers hurled abuse at Monash councillors last Tuesday night, forcing Mayor Paul Klisaris to suspend the ordinary council meeting for 10 minutes.
More than 100 residents stood and yelled at the councillors at the Mulgrave Community Centre after Cr Klisaris refused to defer all Monash ratepayers’ bills until ratepayers and council reached a solution on the cost of the bills a request from Monash Ratepayers Association president Jack Davis.
Fuming residents jumped from their seats, walking towards the councillors calling them “an absolute disgrace” and “bloodsuckers”.
Cr Klisaris called for the meeting, which was the second of Monash’s “taking the council to the people” sessions, to be suspended for 10 minutes so residents could vent their anger.
As the Leader reported on August 19, about half of Monash residents had been hit hard with 2008/09 rate increases some exceeding 30 per cent.
The dramatic shift in rate bills was due to the 2008 State Government-commissioned revaluation of all Monash land.
The rates for each property this year were then calculated on the new land prices, which have skyrocketed in some suburbs.
The August 26 council meeting recommenced after many residents left the chamber shouting, “it’s all over, it’s no use”.
Cr Klisaris moved on with the meeting, inviting the remaining 30-odd residents in the gallery to ask questions after the meeting had ended.
Those in the gallery continued to taunt the councillors as they moved through each item on the agenda, including a report on the recent letter the council sent to the State Government detailing their concern with the way rates are calculated on land values.
After the council completed its agenda the floor was again open to residents in the gallery, causing another outcry as each person yelled out their opinion.
Councillors Klisaris and Lake attempted to answer the questions fired at them, explaining how the rates system worked.
“We can’t do what you want us to do,” Cr Klisaris said.
The next council meeting will be held on September 16."

Does any of this sound familiar? Rates going through the roof; no real justification for them - except of course to fund monuments to stupidity such as a $5 million pavilion in Caulfield Park, and up to probably $50 million on an aquatic centre when it is 2 km from Kingston's 'Waves' and no-one asked for this, much less really wants it if our rates are to increase 6.5% EVERY YEAR for the next 4 or 5 years. All I know is that last year my rates went up nearly $200. This year it is the same. So $400 in two years means that this is a 47% increase in the space of two years. My property certainly hasn't increased by this amount. Reading through the real estate listings, this area has increased by only 30 odd percent in the last 18 months. So how does this council justify such increases?

Perhaps we should take up the Monash mob tactics and really let these people who live in ivory towers know what we think. Your views are welcomed.