Glen Crompton wants a full rating review in Ballarat. PICTURE: JUSTIN WHITELOCK
RATES and how they are spent is the burning issue for Ballarat City Council candidate Glen Crompton.
Mr Crompton, who will stand in the central ward, said yesterday he wants to know how rates are calculated, how they are spent and whether ratepayers get value for money.
“I would really like to hear from anyone whose rates have gone down,” Mr Crompton said.
“I have been straw polling pretty hard from a pretty wide demographic across Ballarat and I’ve yet to find anyone whose rates have decreased.
“In fact, most people I’ve talked to are very unhappy about how much their rates have gone up in the past year, continuing a trend of increases in recent years.”
He said, if elected, he will seek a full rating system review.
“There does not seem to be any increase in service levels or facilities to match the increase in rates. How much have services improved or increased?
“Bendigo is a similar size city with a similar history. They seem to be forging ahead with far more drive and success than Ballarat is enjoying.
“Surely that has to be a reflection of successive councils and administrations in Ballarat not making the most of opportunities and not ploughing enough rate dollars back into improving facilities here.”
Mr Crompton said he decided to stand for council because there have been too many “red light” issues.
“Plenty of us have sat around bemoaning the state of the town so I figure it’s either put up or shut up.”
