We don't need a budget surplus -
We need rate relief!
Our community is struggling. The cost of living is breaking us.
And Hume City Council want to raise our rates!
The cost of living crisis is hitting us hard. Hume is one of the worst local government areas in Victoria for housing stress and has the highest rate of poverty in Victoria. One in five people in our community are living below the poverty line [1]. Last year over 46,684 Hume residents were struggling to make ends meet, and we are seeing homelessness on our streets. Housing security and affordability is at an all time low. People can't afford to feed their families, let alone pay more in Council rates. Record numbers are now experiencing food insecurity, missing meals and facing malnutrition. Food relief services are seeing more and more people than ever before needing their help, as the cost of living crisis eats away at our household budgets and takes food from our tables. We can't afford to see a doctor. We can't afford to put the heater on. We are isolated from our friends and family. Our quality of life has been eroded by exploding costs and there is little hope of things getting better...
And now Hume City Council want to raise rates again, all for a budget surplus!
As of the 29th of May the Hume City Council released their proposed budget for 2024-2025. Sadly it offers no relief for you and me. Instead, we might cop a full rate hike of 2.75%. All to forecast a budget surplus of $133 million dollars. Asking us to fund a surplus in a cost of living crisis is cruel, unnecessary, and takes dignity from us when we have nothing left to give.
To quote Hume City Council's own Social Justice Charter: "Council’s commitment to social justice means everything we do is directed towards improving the wellbeing of Hume residents, their socio-economic and environmental conditions, and their participation in the community."
How is adding financial stress to households improving our wellbeing or socio-economic conditions?
The Council's proposed "Cost of Living Community Relief Package" is only 0.3% of the proposed budget surplus, which isn't enough to make any real impact for people who need it. More so, people struggling in our community don't need a program to "help reduce household spending" - we need more income to cover the basic costs of living, and for our costs to stop rising.
This has got to change. We need to stand together and say "No"
What we need to do next:
#1 - Give feedback to Council via Participate Hume
The proposed budget will be on the Participate Hume website from now until 11 June. It's critical that we tell Council that the budget priorities need to change. Read the proposal - ask your own questions - and make sure you tell them what you think, and how their budget will impact you. Find the Proposed Budget on the Participate Hume Website Here.
#2 - Add your voice to call on Hume Councilors to reject the proposed budget
Add your name to the open letter below calling on Hume City Councilors to prioritise rate relief for every household in Hume. Together we can make a difference.
To Hume City Councilors,
Australia is in the midst of a cost of living crisis. Housing is unaffordable and people are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Hume is one of the worst LGA's for housing stress and has the highest rate of poverty in Victoria, leaving people in crisis and at risk of homelessness. Out of control inflation has eaten household budgets and the food from our tables, and people are going hungry. People are having to choose between eating or keeping the heater on, and parents are going without so their children can eat.
There are 46,684 residents in our community who are living in poverty, and yet you are asking more from us. There is a time and place for a budget surplus - but now is not it, not at the cost of the dignity and wellbeing of our community.
We call on Hume City Councilors to hear our plea, reject the proposed budget and ensure it is amended to focus on rate relief and meaningful cost of living relief for every household in Hume.
Sincerely,
Your Hume Community as signed