Wodonga Council whistleblower Charlie Mitchell says rate cap exemption bid proves council is a slow learner

Charlie Mitchell, a former Wodonga Council finance department employee, made a complaint which sparked the Ombudsman report which was stinging in its criticism of council when handed down last year.

He said the matter could return to haunt council.

He is in possession of advice from the Essential Services Commission, which must approve any application for a rate rise over the mandated cap, revealing the council’s practice for more than a decade of using revenue raised under the waste management levy on other services was likely to feature in an “outcomes report” to be tabled in April.

Every two years the ESC has to report on the impacts of rate-capping from a financial, service and infrastructure perspective and is set to include some analysis on any significant changes in uncapped revenue such as waste charges.

Ombudsman Deborah Glass said the practice by council was a deliberate attempt to raise revenue by avoiding the public backlash of jacking up rates.

The council has declined to comment on consideration of applying to the ESC for a rate cap exemption.

Wodonga Ratepayers Association president Ian Deegan blasted reports of council even contemplating a rate rise over the cap.

Mr Mitchell went a step further.

“Wodonga rates should be zero per cent as the council has taken over $19 million from ratepayers for the last 11 years,” he said.

“Wodonga Council overcharged ratepayers over $90 per year for the last 10 years, essentially taking money out of ratepayers pockets without their knowledge and then the executive spending the money as they so desired.

“The Ombudsman summed it up accurately that the council's actions were taken to avoid negative publicity.

“All the directors of council, past councillors and also the current councillors who voted for the excess waste charges have failed to take an ethical transparent approach and have failed to support the community that they are supposed to serve.”

Even though the ratepayers won a $51.20 reduction on the waste management levy from last financial year, the levy is still raising $1.7 million for council in the present financial year.

“This year each ratepayer is being overcharged for waste by some $39,” Mr Mitchell said.

“But once again council applies their media spin in saying they reduced the levy by $51.20.”