The South Australian Political Landscape

Labor, Liberal, Greens, Democrats? Here's the place to discuss.

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby morell » Fri Apr 13, 2018 10:33 am

Urgh. Liberals and their naff ideas. Their latest one is rate capping. Yes! Rate capping! That’s a grand idea!

No. It’s naff. And a waste of time.

I wish they would call it what it actually is. Rate *increase* Capping. Your rates are not going to go down, nor are they going to even plateau. They’re just going to increase ever so slightly less. Maybe. Unless the council can prove it needs more, which of course the majority of the time it will be able to. The Council I work for is putting up a 3.6% rate increase, that equates to $64 bucks a year more for the average household in our district. Should rate capping come in, that would be at CPI (~2%) I believe, which would mean the increase would be more like $35.

So all this hubbub, all this popularity dog whistling “were easing the cost of living!” is all to potentially save about $35 a year. And I repeat, if we use the NSW model this cap only applies if the Council can’t prove it needs more money. Trust me, that’s a pretty straight forward exercise.

Just as absurd as the minimal impact this policy will have on the lives of home owners, is the complete lack of understanding about how rates are calculated. I swear, the LGA should run ads explaining this.

Rates are called “rates” rather than a tax because they are calculated using a “rate in the dollar”, that rate in the dollar is calculated by adding up all of the years expenses, operational and capital, and then dividing it by the total value of the housing stock in the area (based on the state govs valuations). That figure is then used to multiply against the individual house value, to determine that years rates for that household.

RID = tHV / tB

iR = RID * iHV

RID = Rate in Dollar
tHV = Total House Value
tB = Total Budget
iR = Individual Rates
iHV – Individual House Value

So. If we want to reduce individual rates, how would we do it?

Reduce the rate in the dollar. How do we reduce the rate in the dollar?

Reduce the divisor. What’s the divisor? The total budget.

How do we reduce the total budget? Cut services.

But of course, that wouldn’t be politically kosher.

If we really want to reduce rates, and believe me I do, we have to look at the services Local Government are delivering, and:

1. Shift some of those services to a more efficient sphere of government (often back to where they should belong – such as environmental health and social programs)
2. Change the funding model to a user pays system – want to use the library? Chip in. Want a Youth program? Chip in.
3. Reduce the amount of large regional asset construction.
4. All of the above.

Specifically on #3. There is no way on gods green earth Local Government should be constructing, implementing and managing multimillion dollar regional infrastructure projects. That is where the true cost savings are.

If we did all of those things, the rates bill, based on some rudimentary calcs I did, would drop by 30%. Hundreds of dollars a year for your average household. We could then look at operating cost reduction (wages) through natural attrition and voluntary redundancies and the savings would be astronomical.

So, don’t buy the bullshit Liberal spin, they’re pissing down your neck and telling you it’s raining.
User avatar
morell
Coach
 
 
Posts: 6382
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:56 pm
Has liked: 2017 times
Been liked: 1138 times
Grassroots Team: Mitchell Park

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby morell » Fri Apr 13, 2018 7:15 pm

No? Nothing? We're my arguments that irrefutable?

K.
User avatar
morell
Coach
 
 
Posts: 6382
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:56 pm
Has liked: 2017 times
Been liked: 1138 times
Grassroots Team: Mitchell Park

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby mighty_tiger_79 » Fri Apr 13, 2018 10:40 pm

Clearly dont work or live in Onka Council....
Matty Wade is a star and deserves more respect from the forum family!
User avatar
mighty_tiger_79
Coach
 
Posts: 56644
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:29 pm
Location: at the TAB
Has liked: 11807 times
Been liked: 3582 times

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby morell » Sat Apr 14, 2018 4:06 pm

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:Clearly dont work or live in Onka Council....

One of the biggest media spin beat ups I've ever seen.
User avatar
morell
Coach
 
 
Posts: 6382
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:56 pm
Has liked: 2017 times
Been liked: 1138 times
Grassroots Team: Mitchell Park

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby mighty_tiger_79 » Sat Apr 14, 2018 4:11 pm

morell wrote:
mighty_tiger_79 wrote:Clearly dont work or live in Onka Council....

One of the biggest media spin beat ups I've ever seen.
Really?? There are other issues which havent hit the media. Or if they have certainly didnt receive the time they deserved.

November will be interesting.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk
Matty Wade is a star and deserves more respect from the forum family!
User avatar
mighty_tiger_79
Coach
 
Posts: 56644
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:29 pm
Location: at the TAB
Has liked: 11807 times
Been liked: 3582 times

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby morell » Sat Apr 14, 2018 4:19 pm

Really really.

A much loved staff member got cancer, which explained a lot of the flowers. None of the Mayor's expenses were exorbitant and were easily explained. I don't even have an issue with the CEO getting his golf membership paid for, provided he uses it for appropriate business development - although I do think it should be for a club within Onkas.

An absolute beat up of monumental proportions. LG is under very heavy scrutiny by ICAC. If anyone farts in the wrong direction they're hauled over the coals. If they found anything actually corrupt, they'd be all over it.
User avatar
morell
Coach
 
 
Posts: 6382
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:56 pm
Has liked: 2017 times
Been liked: 1138 times
Grassroots Team: Mitchell Park

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby bennymacca » Sat Apr 14, 2018 9:35 pm

You think it’s ok for ratepayers to pay for a golf membership?!?!?
User avatar
bennymacca
Coach
 
 
Posts: 15028
Joined: Wed May 06, 2009 12:22 pm
Has liked: 2253 times
Been liked: 1803 times
Grassroots Team: Freeling

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby mighty_tiger_79 » Sun Apr 15, 2018 9:27 am

Im not talking about much loved staff member...but in any case I dont see why i should be paying for that.

Anyway you can keep guessing at what the issues are that havent hit the media.....or if they have its been minimal...
Matty Wade is a star and deserves more respect from the forum family!
User avatar
mighty_tiger_79
Coach
 
Posts: 56644
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:29 pm
Location: at the TAB
Has liked: 11807 times
Been liked: 3582 times

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby tryharder » Sun Apr 15, 2018 3:56 pm

morell wrote:Urgh. Liberals and their naff ideas. Their latest one is rate capping. Yes! Rate capping! That’s a grand idea!

No. It’s naff. And a waste of time.

I wish they would call it what it actually is. Rate *increase* Capping. Your rates are not going to go down, nor are they going to even plateau. They’re just going to increase ever so slightly less. Maybe. Unless the council can prove it needs more, which of course the majority of the time it will be able to. The Council I work for is putting up a 3.6% rate increase, that equates to $64 bucks a year more for the average household in our district. Should rate capping come in, that would be at CPI (~2%) I believe, which would mean the increase would be more like $35.

So all this hubbub, all this popularity dog whistling “were easing the cost of living!” is all to potentially save about $35 a year. And I repeat, if we use the NSW model this cap only applies if the Council can’t prove it needs more money. Trust me, that’s a pretty straight forward exercise.

Just as absurd as the minimal impact this policy will have on the lives of home owners, is the complete lack of understanding about how rates are calculated. I swear, the LGA should run ads explaining this.

Rates are called “rates” rather than a tax because they are calculated using a “rate in the dollar”, that rate in the dollar is calculated by adding up all of the years expenses, operational and capital, and then dividing it by the total value of the housing stock in the area (based on the state govs valuations). That figure is then used to multiply against the individual house value, to determine that years rates for that household.

RID = tHV / tB

iR = RID * iHV

RID = Rate in Dollar
tHV = Total House Value
tB = Total Budget
iR = Individual Rates
iHV – Individual House Value

So. If we want to reduce individual rates, how would we do it?

Reduce the rate in the dollar. How do we reduce the rate in the dollar?

Reduce the divisor. What’s the divisor? The total budget.

How do we reduce the total budget? Cut services.

But of course, that wouldn’t be politically kosher.

If we really want to reduce rates, and believe me I do, we have to look at the services Local Government are delivering, and:

1. Shift some of those services to a more efficient sphere of government (often back to where they should belong – such as environmental health and social programs)
2. Change the funding model to a user pays system – want to use the library? Chip in. Want a Youth program? Chip in.
3. Reduce the amount of large regional asset construction.
4. All of the above.

Specifically on #3. There is no way on gods green earth Local Government should be constructing, implementing and managing multimillion dollar regional infrastructure projects. That is where the true cost savings are.

If we did all of those things, the rates bill, based on some rudimentary calcs I did, would drop by 30%. Hundreds of dollars a year for your average household. We could then look at operating cost reduction (wages) through natural attrition and voluntary redundancies and the savings would be astronomical.

So, don’t buy the bullshit Liberal spin, they’re pissing down your neck and telling you it’s raining.


Mate suffer in your jocks. Liberal Party won, you lost. You should be used to this at Mitchell Park. Do you ever back a winner
tryharder
Mini-League
 
 
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2018 8:43 pm
Has liked: 0 time
Been liked: 0 time
Grassroots Team: Gepps Cross

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby Dogwatcher » Mon Apr 16, 2018 10:43 am

A valid contribution ^

Maybe you should Try Harder.
You're my only friend, and you don't even like me.
Dogwatcher
Coach
 
 
Posts: 29318
Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2006 10:29 am
Location: The Bronx
Has liked: 1425 times
Been liked: 1152 times
Grassroots Team: Elizabeth

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby morell » Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:18 pm

bennymacca wrote:You think it’s ok for ratepayers to pay for a golf membership?!?!?

For the CEO?

Sure. Provided it's used appropriately and there is a defined outcome.
User avatar
morell
Coach
 
 
Posts: 6382
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:56 pm
Has liked: 2017 times
Been liked: 1138 times
Grassroots Team: Mitchell Park

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby morell » Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:22 pm

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:I not talking about much loved staff member...but in any case I dont see why i should be paying for that.
Because that would foster a more supportive workplace that appreciates it's employees and ensure high morale. Which in turn would provide a higher functioning worker, which would in turn improve service levels.

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:I you can keep guessing at what the issues are that havent hit the media.....or if they have its been minimal...
Yeah look I really don't care. If there was anything of notoriety in the investigation, ICAC would be over it. If there is an issue that wasn't part of the investigation, report it to ICAC. It's a massive organisation, there would bound to be something untoward going on, as there would be in every organisation that size.
User avatar
morell
Coach
 
 
Posts: 6382
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:56 pm
Has liked: 2017 times
Been liked: 1138 times
Grassroots Team: Mitchell Park

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby mighty_tiger_79 » Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:23 pm

morell wrote:
mighty_tiger_79 wrote:I not talking about much loved staff member...but in any case I dont see why i should be paying for that.
Because that would foster a more supportive workplace that appreciates it's employees and ensure high morale. Which in turn would provide a higher functioning worker, which would in turn improve service levels.

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:I you can keep guessing at what the issues are that havent hit the media.....or if they have its been minimal...
Yeah look I really don't care. If there was anything of notoriety in the investigation, ICAC would be over it. If there is an issue that wasn't part of the investigation, report it to ICAC. It's a massive organisation, there would bound to be something untoward going on, as there would be in every organisation that size.
But....why am I paying for that?



Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk
Matty Wade is a star and deserves more respect from the forum family!
User avatar
mighty_tiger_79
Coach
 
Posts: 56644
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:29 pm
Location: at the TAB
Has liked: 11807 times
Been liked: 3582 times

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby morell » Mon Apr 16, 2018 9:29 pm

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:
morell wrote:
mighty_tiger_79 wrote:I not talking about much loved staff member...but in any case I dont see why i should be paying for that.
Because that would foster a more supportive workplace that appreciates it's employees and ensure high morale. Which in turn would provide a higher functioning worker, which would in turn improve service levels.

mighty_tiger_79 wrote:I you can keep guessing at what the issues are that havent hit the media.....or if they have its been minimal...
Yeah look I really don't care. If there was anything of notoriety in the investigation, ICAC would be over it. If there is an issue that wasn't part of the investigation, report it to ICAC. It's a massive organisation, there would bound to be something untoward going on, as there would be in every organisation that size.
But....why am I paying for that?



Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk
Because that would foster a more supportive workplace that appreciates it's employees and ensure high morale. Which in turn would provide a higher functioning worker, which would in turn improve service levels.

Guess what? You pay for the workers *wages* too.

Gasp! Shock! Horror!
User avatar
morell
Coach
 
 
Posts: 6382
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:56 pm
Has liked: 2017 times
Been liked: 1138 times
Grassroots Team: Mitchell Park

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby Ronnie » Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:52 am

Hopefully the Apple watch the ratepayers paid for is helping the CEO keep time. Who could seriously say that particular Council hasn't been taking the ratepayers for a ride, a Council area that includes some suburbs where putting a meal on the table is problematic. It's disgusting.
Ronnie
Reserves
 
Posts: 795
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 7:57 am
Has liked: 8 times
Been liked: 84 times

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby am Bays » Tue Apr 17, 2018 11:11 am

morell wrote:Because that would foster a more supportive workplace that appreciates it's employees and ensure high morale. Which in turn would provide a higher functioning worker, which would in turn improve service levels.

Guess what? You pay for the workers *wages* too.

Gasp! Shock! Horror!


In making that statement Morell, I'm sure you've got a statistical listing of the number of Onkaparinga employees the CEO took for a round at Kooyonga, with a filter applied for designation, whilst it was council paid membership (I understand it has since been paid for by the CEO privately).

I wonder if the junior in accounts or parking services got an opportunity, for a bit of informal PRD and team building....
Let that be a lesson to you Port, no one beats the Bays five times in a row in a GF and gets away with it!!!
User avatar
am Bays
Coach
 
 
Posts: 18498
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:04 pm
Location: The back bar at Lennies
Has liked: 162 times
Been liked: 1804 times

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby morell » Tue Apr 17, 2018 11:25 am

Ronnie wrote:Hopefully the Apple watch the ratepayers paid for is helping the CEO keep time. Who could seriously say that particular Council hasn't been taking the ratepayers for a ride, a Council area that includes some suburbs where putting a meal on the table is problematic. It's disgusting.
lol calm down Maude Flanders.

"Disgusting"? Really? Do you know what Apple Watches do? It's a corporate tool, I'd suspect it would be integrated with his emails and calendar. At the CEO level time is incredibly valuable - all it would take is one meeting notification that vibrated on his wrist and it would've paid for itself.
User avatar
morell
Coach
 
 
Posts: 6382
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:56 pm
Has liked: 2017 times
Been liked: 1138 times
Grassroots Team: Mitchell Park

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby morell » Tue Apr 17, 2018 11:31 am

am Bays wrote:
morell wrote:Because that would foster a more supportive workplace that appreciates it's employees and ensure high morale. Which in turn would provide a higher functioning worker, which would in turn improve service levels.

Guess what? You pay for the workers *wages* too.

Gasp! Shock! Horror!


In making that statement Morell, I'm sure you've got a statistical listing of the number of Onkaparinga employees the CEO took for a round at Kooyonga, with a filter applied for designation, whilst it was council paid membership (I understand it has since been paid for by the CEO privately).

I wonder if the junior in accounts or parking services got an opportunity, for a bit of informal PRD and team building....
See this is the actual problem. A lack of understanding what his role is.

He's not playing golf with Onkaparinga people, he's playing golf with other corporate stakeholders. Maybe the state manager for their asphalt contract? Maybe the minister for X and Y? Maybe with a business person in the district looking for support for a grant?

I actually think it's a good thing that he is out and about pressing the flesh representing Local Government at that sort of level. Heck, I'd suggest it's an expectation.

We're talking three grand. It's so inconsequential in the scheme of things. It would take one successful business meeting or discussion through that medium for it to pay for itself. You guys imagine a round of golf with your mates, I imagine a 4 hour business development meeting outside.

It's akin to having a coffee card or discretionary budget for catering. It's part of doing business.
User avatar
morell
Coach
 
 
Posts: 6382
Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:56 pm
Has liked: 2017 times
Been liked: 1138 times
Grassroots Team: Mitchell Park

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby Booney » Tue Apr 17, 2018 11:37 am

For someone who seems so well versed on the topic I point you to :

- Membership establishment fee was $7000
- It was supposed to give the CEO the ability to develop relationships with Chinese investors interested in, particularly, Noarlunga Centre
- The CEO was on a $328,000 salary

I use golf days as a relationship building exercise with my clients also. I don't need a $7000 membership to do so, I keep an eye on course specials, corporate days etc and take the clients to those.

I probably do around 4-6 a year and would spend $3-400 on any given day if we stay and have dinner or I provide a taxi/Uber home for them.
PAFC. Forever.

LOOK OUT, WE'RE COMING!
User avatar
Booney
Coach
 
 
Posts: 58211
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2005 1:47 pm
Location: Alberton proud
Has liked: 7467 times
Been liked: 10755 times

Re: The South Australian Political Landscape

Postby Booney » Tue Apr 17, 2018 11:41 am

morell wrote:
bennymacca wrote:You think it’s ok for ratepayers to pay for a golf membership?!?!?

For the CEO?

Sure. Provided it's used appropriately and there is a defined outcome.


Would a "defined outcome" be a bloke on $328,000 getting free membership at a golf club outside of his council paid for by rate payers?
PAFC. Forever.

LOOK OUT, WE'RE COMING!
User avatar
Booney
Coach
 
 
Posts: 58211
Joined: Thu Oct 27, 2005 1:47 pm
Location: Alberton proud
Has liked: 7467 times
Been liked: 10755 times

PreviousNext

Board index   General Talk  Politics

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 8 guests

Around the place

Competitions   SANFL Official Site | Country Footy SA | Southern Football League | VFL Footy
Club Forums   Snouts Louts | The Roost | Redlegs Forum |