In an extraordinary development this morning, the City of Onkaparinga has reportedly decided to keep this year’s rate rise to CPI after identifying actual savings across the organisation.
The breakthrough appears to have come after administration allegedly located the long-missing service register, allowing councillors to finally see what services Council delivers, what they cost, how they are funded, and where real savings might actually be found.
Sources say the reform package does not stop there.
It reportedly also includes:
Early indications suggest councillors were, for a brief moment, given the information they had asked for before being required to make decisions.
Ratepayers are also understood to have been considered in the process, with Council allegedly recognising that residents are already under cost-of-living pressure and should not be asked to pay more without a clear explanation of what can be reduced, delayed or removed first.
The incident was quickly identified as inconsistent with established practice.
Happy April Fools’ Day.
