Council slashes salaries

By Shaun Inguanzo
GREATER Dandenong council has decided that it will no longer fund salaries for staff working on community projects.
Councillors made the decision in order to reduce spending on community grants.
A proposal for the 2008-09 General Support Program was accepted with the salary amendment by councillors at Monday night’s meeting.
In the report, a review by council officers found that community feedback called for salaries for temporary or once-off projects to be funded, and for school councils to be ineligible for funding.
The latter was upheld, but Springvale South Ward councillor Yvonne Herring gained the support of councillors to remove any funding of salaries whether they are ongoing or once-off.
Cr Herring said it was “not up to council to fund salaries for community groups”.
“We pay enough salaries (at the council),” she said.
Dandenong North Ward councillor John Kelly agreed.
“We have 600 odd staff here, and we do a great job supporting community groups.
“But we have to draw the line somewhere.”
Councillors Roz Blades, Peter Brown and Youhorn Chea were opposed to the move to slash salary funding.