Staff at Indigo Council may have reason to fear their future employment after a new set of councillors is elected.
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Multiple questions at Monday’s election candidates’ forum focused on council expenses, especially what some believed was a high percentage paid to staff.
Candidate Elaine Downs would consider an audience suggestion to cut council staff numbers in half.
She said having a “lean council” meant reviewing job descriptions.
“Am I prepared to do that? Well that’s the job we’ve put our hand up for and so if we’re prepared to sit in front of you and answer questions, then I can promise you that we’re there for hard tasks,” Ms Downs said.
Cr Bernard Gaffney balanced the municipality with the similar-sized Alpine Council, which has 102 full-time staff compared to Indigo’s 137, seven vehicles compared to Indigo’s 38, and subsequently zero debt.
But another former Indigo mayor Larry Goldsworthy said councillors’ power was restricted to making plans after consultation with the community.
“Council does not hire and fire staff … it’s up to the CEO as to what staff he needs to do that,” he said.
Mr Goldsworthy said the solution was not having a ratio for staff wages versus spending, it was attracting extra income through state government grants.
He said while $11.9 million of Indigo Council money was spent on staff, it had more than just $14.7m in rates income available.
Cr Jenny O’Connor said council money should be invested in renewable energy projects, to create jobs in research and manufacturing.
“We need to focus on how we grow the shire, rather than sack people who live and work here, which I think would be a terrible outcome,” she said. “We have an opportunity here and I am a little tired of hearing that we should be sacking staff as an option for how we grow Indigo Shire – I think that’s a retrograde approach.”
The challenges of making the most of a tight budget was a recurring theme.
Cr Barb Murdoch said she was in favour of the Victorian government’s 2.5 per cent rate cap.
“For far too long we’ve used rates as a way to just make sure that we get what we want and not make a fiscal decision,” she said.
“We need to get together and find out what things are necessary and what things we don’t need.
“It’s about shaving to cut the costs that we’ve got, it’s not about putting up rates.”
