Southern Downs ratepayers skeptical of budget transparency
RATEPAYERS on the Southern Downs have welcomed proposed changes to future council budgets with skepticism.
Daily News readers were critical of the council on the website and social media, with many saying the transparency is too little too late.
Previous mayoral candidate Darryl Evans said debt and rate hikes would be the council's undoing.
"Most Councillors and mayor have been in place for seven years and just before an election they are going to start listening or honouring advertising election promises," he wrote.
"Fresh faces, fresh approach - the community deserves better than more of the same."
Online reader bemused local was also skeptical.
"The idea of the "public discussion" regarding the next budget sounds good in theory, however, it doesn't necessarily mean that any notice will be taken by the Mayor and his "senior staff" when they actually do the budget," they wrote.
"It will be interesting to see if the "discussion" this Wednesday is in open Council or whether it will be taken behind closed doors!"
The next Southern Downs Regional Council budget could be open for public feedback if councillors support a proposal at a...
Posted by Warwick Daily News on Sunday, September 20, 2015
Other readers were less welcoming of the consultation, saying that councillors are elected to make decisions.
"Councillors should, by default, be talking to people constantly and getting feedback on what is important in the community," Joe Lintas wrote.
"This to me reeks of a 'cop out'.
"Councillors should get some intestinal fortitude and start doing their job."
Mary Rofe also quetioned the councillors' jobs.
"Isn't that what we elect our councillors for?," she wrote.
"To oversee and represent on our behalf and be transparent in their dealings?"
What other readers said:
Doesn't that sound good?
If this proposal was in place this year I wonder if the near $200,000 would be approved for some power for Stanthorpe aerodrome?
Why does SDRC use two council chambers for meetings?
One in Warwick and one in Stanthorpe.
How much money was spent in doing up the Stanthorpe Chambers not that long ago (last year or year before??) when Warwick has a perfectly good Council Chamber for use of council meetings?
- finga,
Warwick
