Cessnock residents: This Wednesday could cost you hundreds of dollars per year

Cessnock’s new Mayor is barely a year in — 13 months to be exact — and already he’s reaching into your wallet. The line from council? Blame the previous lot. Remember last year’s headlines? “Cessnock Has Cash to Splash”. Fast forward 13 months, and suddenly the city’s broke. Where did all that cash go? Don’t hold your breath waiting for an answer.

Meanwhile, council has 400 staff on the books. Four. Hundred. Cut half tomorrow, and services wouldn’t skip a beat. Instead, council never looks inward — no belt-tightening, no cuts, just a hand stretched toward your bank account.

And now the pièce de résistance: this Wednesday, council plans to apply to IPART for a rate hike above the standard limit. They’ve already spent $90,000 of your money on a professor to justify it. That’s right — $90K of your cash wasted while they cry poor.

Let’s not forget the cast of characters running this circus. Councilor Rosa Grine — forced to resign after filing for bankruptcy. That’s right. She couldn’t manage her own budget, yet we’re supposed to trust her with the finances of a city? Some of these people shouldn’t even be allowed to write a cheque, let alone vote on your rates.

Cessnock, here’s your chance: show up Wednesday night. Make noise. Shout at the council chambers. Remind them they work for you, not the other way around. If you stay silent, your rates go up, your wallet gets lighter, and council pats itself on the back for “responsible financial management.”

Leadership isn’t whining about cash, hiring expensive consultants, or blaming the past. Leadership is cutting waste, making hard choices, and protecting the people who actually pay the bills. Cessnock deserves better — a hell of a lot better.

My message to the Mayor and Councilors is simple: we won’t forget how you vote on Wednesday, and we, the people, get the final vote!