Sell-off should be paused for much deeper inquiry
Mr Persson's investigation concluded (Persson calls for administration while merger proceeds, Peninsula News, April 19) that "by far, the greatest reason the council became insolvent was due to mismanagement of their budget over the years following the merger".
You don't say!
Although he does acknowledge "unusual circumstances accelerated the collapse of the operating budget" that is, bushfires, floods, coastal erosion at Wamberal, the pandemic - and the advice council received about potential loss of income due to it.
He then goes on to state "nothing excuses the negligence of those in charge for their relative inaction".
Who does he mean?
The executive leadership team?
It was the use of restricted funds that caused councillors to be suspended, but Mr Persson said that was not the reason why the budget blew out.
"Even if those in charge thought those funds could be used for their expanded spending, they must have known they would eventually run out," he said.
I understand that the councillors did not know the restricted funds were being used.
I very much hope a public inquiry does get to the bottom of this.
And I don't believe this financial crisis should be used to sell off the communities assets: our green spaces; our community land; our mobile home parks providing affordable housing; our car parks that support the small businesses of West St, Umina.
The sell-off needs to be paused and alternative financial solutions should be considered.
The State and Federal Governments could come to our aid.
It is not clear to me or to many other residents that the councillors are all at fault.
Many of us think the causes are much deeper and need to be explored in order to be avoided in the future.
SOURCE:
Email, 26 Apr 2021
Sally Jope, Umina Beach