There is no doubt that 2020 was a tough year for all. As we recover from the impact of COVID and learn to adjust and adapt there still remains enormous pressure on household and small business finances. Stonnington Council should make the ethical decision to at least FREEZE rates this year. It is the only ethical response to our community. It can be done without cutting vital services. It can be done by making Council more responsible in it's spending and more efficient.

Why Should we freeze rates?

• Stonnington Council has enjoyed a 10 year boom in rates pre COVID.
• The impact on the community is far from over and will take longer to subside

How Should Council act?
Stonnington should (for once) begin with an efficiency target to reduce all expenditure by 5% without cutting any services. It should defer all non essential projects and fast track essential repairs to roads, footpaths and drains to keep local jobs (not external contractors) a priority. 

What projects should be cut?
Non essential and ambitious political projects like Prahran Town Hall - a $30M restoration that isn't needed when our open space has fallen to the lowest of any Victorian Council. 

Have your say?
First, you can and should make a submission here: Stonnington Budget Submission
Second, you can and should email all Councillors and tell them what you think.

Their emails are as follows:

Kate Hely
khely@stonnington.vic.gov.au 

Marcia Griffin
mgriffin@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Matthew Koce
mkoce@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Alex Lew
alew@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Polly Morgan
pmorgan@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Jami Klisaris
jklisaris@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Nicki Batagol
nbatagol@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Mike Scott
mscott@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Melina Sehr
msehr@stonnington.vic.gov.au