Comment: It's rates discussion time again
Comment: IT is that time of the year again, the time to look in the mailbox for the rates notice from Southern Downs Regional Council.
Rates could almost be described as a tax on land and it could be argued they should be abolished but no government will ever bring in the new charges to replace rates.
This year's rates discussion at council has been controversial to say the least.
Most of the discussion has been behind closed doors.
It seems a tradition that council rates discussions are behind closed doors but the major reason for closed door discussions are matters like the council deciding how much to pay for more land for parking rather than what rates and charges should be.
There have been plenty of discussions in the Daily News and on social media about the rate rise including a split vote among the councillors.
As a ratepayer, one thing that annoys me is figures about general rates up four per cent whereas in fact most ratepayers with water and sewerage will face a double figure overall rise.
Cutting the discount figure or what is discounted just means more for the vast majority who pay on time.
Many on fixed incomes, wages or running businesses have very little if any increase in their income and I suspect won't be racing to the mailbox for their rates notice.
