A Hobsons Bay councillor has expressed concern about five new positions costing $425,000 and warned the council it needs to tighten its belt ahead of rates capping.
As reported by Star Weekly, the proposed average residential rate rise is 3.8 per cent, down from 6.8 per cent originally planned before the carbon tax was repealed.
Cr Peter Hemphill, who last week abstained from voting on the draft 2015-16 council budget, said he had particular concern about two of the five positions.
“There are five new positions that are going to cost us half a million dollars, and with the rate capping that’s coming up … I believe we need to start tightening our belts now,” he said.
“I’m not saying that I oppose all those positions, but it’s a fair hike and I think the community needs to be aware of what’s going on. There’s a community engagement officer and a part-time human resources policy officer that I have concern about.”
The council is employing a community engagement officer for $75,637 and a human resources policy officer for $41,520, both on a temporary nine-month contract. Three statutory planning officers are being contracted for a total of $307,554.
Hobsons Bay chief executive Chris Eddy said the administration felt the positions were appropriate for current needs and circumstances.
“These non-permanent positions, alongside other budget elements, are still subject to final endorsement by councillors,” he said.
Cr Angela Altair told last week’s council meeting she was reluctantly voting for the draft budget. She said continual cost shifting by other levels of government and a freeze in indexation of the Victoria Grants Commission funding was placing additional pressure on the council to fund services such as family day care, libraries and home and community care.
“I was going to perhaps just not vote either way tonight – I’ll be honest with you – and just wait for the feedback that I get from the community,” she said.
“I will, with some reluctance, support this given the assurances that we’ve heard around the table that it is in draft form.”
