Council
16 April, 2026
Opinion - Ignore the spin – we’re in trouble
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s general manager Lisa Miscamble was asked a very direct question earlier this year: “Are we in a financial crisis?”
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s general manager Lisa Miscamble was asked a very direct question earlier this year: “Are we in a financial crisis?”
Her answer was as equally as direct. ‘No’.
Financial experts say otherwise.
The general manager’s professional reputation is now on the line after a member of Mayor Jesse Fitzpatrick’s voting bloc, Cr James Farell, asked a question about council’s financial sustainability at Wednesday meeting.
The question to AEC’s Graham Jarvis was direct.
Is Wingecarribee Shire Council in financial trouble?
The answer from Mr Jarvis was as equally as direct.
Wingecarribee Shire Council doesn’t have enough money in the kitty to address risks or to deliver on its commitments.
That folks, is a crisis at best and a disaster for ratepayers at worst.
Given the Mayor has also been keen to sprout council’s financial sustainability and to explain away a whole range of issues via Podcast and Facebook – he can also be accused of misleading ratepayers.
Here’s the truth – according to WSC’s independent consultant.
Council simply doesn’t have enough money to deliver on its vision for the community.
Remember, we were promised that Wingecarribee Shire would be the most liveable place in NSW for all generations to thrive by 2035?
Unfortunately, that won’t happen unless we swallow a massive rate hike, or we allow council to make decisions that will potentially burden the community for the next 50 years – until 2076.
Apparently it’s complicated.
Mr Jarvis said it was a concept that most people would find difficult to understand.
So let’s dumb it down.
Council has three different funds (general, water, sewer) and dollars can’t be switched from one fund for works in another.
It has a surplus in the sewer fund but those dollars can’t be used to fix potholes.
Not so hard to understand for the average ratepayer – or for anyone really.
From the words of council’s own independent consultant – council doesn’t have the financial capacity to achieve its vision, even if it raises rates and cuts funding to core services including libraries and aquatic facilities.
That’s a crisis no matter what anyone says.
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