By Cr Michael Clarke
When people say, ‘we want to pay less rates”, the options to fulfil such aspirations are limited. This is because the only way to really reduce rates is to reduce services, which would likely mean the loss of programs such as Maternal and Child Health Services, closure of libraries, or sporting facilities would no longer be available.
But what if there was another way? Maribyrnong City Council is exploring two potential enterprises to generate alternate income streams that would in turn reduce the draw on ratepayer funding.
As many in the community are aware, Council is currently seeking community support to investigate the possibility of engaging in the Medicinal Cannabis industry. This is a unique opportunity; one not seen before in the history of any local government authority not just in the state of Victoria but in Australia, if not the world.
Instead of Council operating as a cost centre, it would become a ‘profit centre’; with all returns going back to Council and the community with the intention to firstly cap and then ultimately reduce rates. Providing your comments through the Your City Your Voice portal will guide Council’s next steps. We will not act on this without your support, so please let us know.
Another opportunity Council is exploring to reduce household costs is to reduce your utility costs, specifically your electricity costs by going solar. If we were able to put Solar Cells on the roof of every house and business in the municipality, we would cut household outgoings, year on year. To add to the model, Council is investigating the use of community batteries through which we would purchase excess power, store it and sell it back to the community when needed. Again all profits go back to the community.
These two projects, if successful would significantly reduce the calling on the household budget to pay for Council services. In short, your rates would at first be capped with the intention of ultimately being reduced. This is how Council is trying to work for you.
