Project funding
If Council borrowed funds to pay for this project to be completed in 2-3 years would you be prepared to pay up to $30 per year in additional rates for 15 years to repay the loan?
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Easter Comment 1 4 Oct 2008, 2:51 PM
No I would not! And neither would anyone I know, for that matter. If you were spending this kind of money on roads and traffic, I would be happy to pay higher rates. This is putting the cart before the horse.
Kylie Comment 1.1 4 Oct 2008, 3:23 PM
NO! I would not be prepared to increase my rates for this outlandish expenditure. If we were addressing our NEEDS, such as mending rural roads and sorting out the highway traffic and looking at a by-pass of Singleton, then perhaps I'd be more interested in such a proposal of WANTS.
moby10 Comment 2 7 Oct 2008, 10:59 AM
On one hand they tell us the project is conceptual but they have a budget of $9M. With their timing they will be asking for a special rate rise before final plans are known.Why should the majority pay for the benefit of a few.
Kayleen Comment 3 7 Oct 2008, 8:29 PM
In the current climate, I can't think of a more wasteful use of resources than this. Borrowing funds from anywhere would not only be difficult, but extremely unpopular. Let's get some perspective here - is this absolutely necessary? I don't believe so and I find it unfathomable that anyone in the community would agree to it - unless of course they are business people with something to gain. NO! No! no!
admin Comment 4 Site Moderation & Administration 14 Oct 2008, 10:39 AM
COMMENT FROM ADMINISTRATOR
There have been a suspiciously large number of sign ups for users in Singleton coming from a single computer (IP address).
This does happen from time to time when the computer is in a school or library or where a family is involved. However, in this instance we have 29 signups from a single address mostly well outside business hours and all exhibit virtually identical voting patterns (against the development).
If there is an explanation for this other than it being a somewhat clumsy attempt to undermine the consultative process we would like to hear it. In the absence of an explanation we will simply include details of the activity from these users in our report to Council so that they can take this activity into account in their analysis of the consultation. We have already notified Council of this activity.
For online consultation to function properly and allow the community to participate at their convenience there has to be an open sign up process. We believe that transparency is the key to making these processes work and will always inform the community if we believe that attempts are being made to subvert the process.
COMMENT FROM ADMINISTRATORThere have been a suspiciously large number of sign ups for users in Singleton coming from a single computer (IP address). This does happen from time to time when the computer is in a school or library or where a family is involved. However, in this instance we have 29 signups
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Dazz Comment 4.1 26 Nov 2008, 10:05 AM
This can also happen from any large or shared network of PCs with a single internet connection / router. Just a thought.
Dazz Comment 5 26 Nov 2008, 9:57 AM
I wouldn't be prepared to pay that much at all especially over that time-frame. I suspect the silent majority wouldn't either.
$10 at the most for 15 years maybe.
I think that a larger increase in rates for the businesses, or sponsorship from those businesses that will (allegedly) stand to benefit from the make-over would be much more palatable.
Especially during the worst financial crisis since the great depression people are struggling enough with the rising cost of living without yet another rate rise.
It is business that stands to gain the most from this, so they should be contributing the most.
Netsta Comment 6 26 Nov 2008, 12:07 PM
We must not forget the normal increases which will occur with inflation anyway, add this to an additional payment, and you are going to find families struggling, especially those who now have to pay for a school bus to take their children to school. When will government back off a bit and stop taking from those who are constantly expected to fork out of their pockets?
Dazz Comment 7 27 Nov 2008, 6:00 AM
Perhaps with the recent lowering of interest rate the amount repaid as interest on borrowings by council can be reduced, which would be handy. Probably won't make a huge difference.
I also see that in the plan, it shows a net increase of $72p.a. for all rate payers, not the $30 a year that is thrown around, where did that figure come from?
Dazz Comment 8 15 Dec 2008, 5:20 PM
In Maitland Mall they have had businesses *sponsor* trees and other landscaping stuff in the mall, perhaps this is a good way to look at lowering landscaping costs as well.