Council subsidies
How much do your Council rates subsidise your visits to venues? Attendances are annual (averaging); losses are rounded; the subsidy per visit.
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- Galleries: 150,000, loss $3.1M. Subsidy $18.
- Theatre Venues: 150,000; loss $2.8M. Subsidy $16.
- Parks and Open Space: (gardens, lakes, reserves, sports fields): 3,000,000; loss $12.3M. Subsidy per attendee $4.
- Library: 640,000, loss $3.3M. Subsidy $5.
- Tourism and Events: Actual tourists attracted by council's work 240,000, loss $4.1M. Subsidy $17.
- Bendigo Heritage Attractions: 100,000, council contribution - loss $1M. Subsidy $10.
- Golden Square Pool: 49,000; loss $18K. Subsidy $3, and
- Gurri Wanyarra Pool: 410,000; loss $1.52M. Subsidy $4
Someone attending the gallery three times, our theatres four times, Open Space 12 times, Library 12 times, attends major events twice, the Deborah Mine once, Golden Square Pool once and Gurri Wanyarra 52 times, in effect receives an annual subsidy of $482. Do your own calculations.
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Subsidies above are based on calculations using figures from documents like 2019/20 Budget, 15 July 2020 agenda, media releases, and extrapolations of past council unit "snapshots". No "snapshots" have been tabled at Council since 2017.
The subsidies are greater, but for reasons known to council, it is only prepared to publicly reveal direct operating costs for some facilities, which excludes costs for depreciation, renewal, contract management, finance, and collateral operating costs hidden in other council units' budgets.
Given the above, allow a +/- 20 per cent correction factor.
So next time you attend a venue, think of fairness, the user pay principle, and your rate subsidy.
Ted Coleman, Strathfieldsaye
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Premier's challenges
Who would want to be Premier right now? It doesn't matter what he says or does it won't be right in everybody's eyes, and while we all make mistakes, he needs to find those accountable or fall on his sword.
Why does Western Australia make it mandatory to be tested when entering its borders yet in Victoria it isn't or wasn't? Why did Victoria use a private security firm to guard quarantine hotels, when other states used the military?
Why are we paying an opposition leader who does nothing but criticise and argue rather than suggesting better options? Why didn't we close our borders the first time?
People don't want to be told what to do.
What's it going to take? My mother is in aged care and I worry someone who doesn't think they have it or can get it, passes it to someone who works there. I can't visit her, and she can't see her family because people don't care until it happens to them.
I suppose it's like speeding or drink driving - it's not until they get caught or have an accident that they take notice, and even then they still don't learn.
James Howden, Ascot
This week's Letter of the Week winner is James Howden. Please send letters to addynews@austcommunitymedia.com.au
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