For years, Cessnock Council has boasted a strong financial position, but a closer examination reveals a disturbing reality—its budget is artificially propped up by state and federal grants, along with natural disaster payments. Buried in this month’s council agenda is an alarming detail: Cessnock Council’s net operating budget is forecast to be in deficit by nearly $30 million. The question is, who is responsible for this financial disaster, and will residents soon be hit with a special rate variation to bail out the council? Councillors Jessica Jurd and first-time Councillor Quintin King raised concerns about financial transparency, only to be shut...