What are we paying for?

SANDRINGHAM resident writes: The ratepayers of this town pay rates and taxes for service which includes streets, street lights, traffic law and order, control noise levels in residential areas and keeping our town clean, among others.

We have called the electricity faults department no less than 10 times in the past month requesting our street lights be repaired as we have had none for the past six to eight weeks. Still no repairs and no lights. I am unable to speak to any senior staff on the phone and am told the town only has one truck despite all the money we pay!

Cattle walk all over the neatly groomed pavement which we maintain, although this is a service we pay for and do not receive. When we complain to the cattle herder he tells us it is his democratic right.

I walked our dog on a leash, but can no longer do this as other dogs get out of their yards and attack us. In the past there was a law regarding dogs and we paid taxes for this. If they were on the street they would be impounded.

The noise! Neighbours sit in their vehicles in their driveways playing radios at top volume and refuse to turn them down as it is ‘their democratic right’, not to mention the church across the national road. No response from the people we pay our hard-earned money to for services and law and order – the municipality.

Pavement trees are no longer pruned in spite of begging, which is the cause of street light problems. I have to contend with taxi drivers blocking my way while dropping people off wherever they like, no matter how illegal it is.

As a ratepayer I feel there is no law and order that I am battling to pay for. I will therefore no longer pay rates until my needs are met – otherwise I’d like to know from the municipality exactly what I am paying for.