Lydia Wilson, Whittlesea Council Administrator

EDITORIAL COMMENT

Times are tough for most, but Whittlesea Council insisted last week in introducing the maximum possible 2 per cent rates increase for local residents.

Administrator Lydia Wilson is applying plenty of public relations spin to ‘sell’ the $214.8 million budget to locals.

A document on the Whittlesea Council website highlights the initiatives:
• $11.99 million to provide services, programs and activities to enable older people to live independently in their homes
• $9.18 million for provision of family and children services
• $8.8 million for public health services and programs delivered; to protect and enhance community health, safety and wellbeing
• $5.22 million contribution to provide the regional library service
• $5.06 million for traffic management services including school crossings and community education programs

It’s interesting that the former Whittlesea Councillors, who were sacked earlier this year, have had nothing at all to say about the increases.