Our team warned this community seven years ago that the ‘infamous’ seven-year plan would double rates. We then fought all the way to the High Court to try to stop it. The court found that the community was deceived and misled by the compounding effect of the annual rate increase but unfortunately ruled the minister had the ultimate say regardless of the failure of the community consultation process.
Our mayor and all current incumbent councillors now seeking re-election were all voted in last time on promises to review the seven-year plan. Warren Polglase even signed a pledge saying he would stop it completely. When elected, to a man they all did absolutely nothing, allowing the plan to continue to compound, until it did in fact double our rates.
Ratepayers should remember these same councillors now again seeking re-election voted themselves a massive initial salary increase, then two further annual salary increases.
Our team is warning this community again.
Our mayor and all incumbent councillors seeking re-election well know that rates will have to be increased and quite significantly as the council cannot meet its operating costs due in part to the interest on the massive loans taken out to fund the extravagant projects in the seven-year plan. That’s why they want to take away rate pegging. However to get your vote again to a man they are telling voters what they think you want to hear: no rate increases. Our group will only tell you the truth.
Don’t be fooled again.
Don’t vote for the ‘same old same old’, who will tax you out of your homes and farms to fund a never-ending council bureaucracy and massive $100 million dams.
Send in the A Team to cut costs and deliver proper financial management.
You know you can trust us, because actions speak far louder than words.
Kaye Sharples and John Zhan
Group A candidates, Tweed Shire election
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
