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Tuesday 19 May 2026
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Nepean School celebration NEPEAN School in Seaford has celebrated its 100th birthday. The specialist school for children living with disability first opened its doors in March of 1926. See story page 8. Pictures: Supplied
Rate reduction plan shut down Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au A PLAN to offer rate relief to Frankston residents was shut down without debate at Frankston Council’s most recent meeting. Frankston Council considered its annual budget at its 11 May public meeting, with the budget drafted by council officers containing a 2.75 percent rate rise. Cr Nathan Butler attempted to raise a proposal investigating a rate reduction, but his plan was not accepted
for debate by the mayor. Cr Butler can be clearly heard on the council meeting recording asking for his alternate motion to be considered, but the mayor Sue Baker proceeded with the original recommendation without acknowledging Cr Butler. She told council “I have discretion as the chair to ask for the officer’s recommendation to be moved first, and I’ve had a mover and a seconder.” Cr Kris Bolam subsequently raised a dissent motion against the mayor, which failed. Defending herself against the dissent motion, Cr Baker
said “I was reading out a statement to all councillors about the importance of the budget and all the work that’s been done over the last six or seven months. So it’s my prerogative to be able to speak and for no one to speak over me or to stop me.” “When I called “Do I have a mover for the officer’s recommendation?”, I saw hands go up on this side of the room,” the mayor said. Cr Butler later released his proposed alternate motion on social media. It requested that before final adoption of the 2026/2027 budget, the Chief
Executive Officer should prepare a new budget option including “an immediate discount for all eligible principal place of residence properties in Frankston City, designed to offset the 2026/2027 general rate increase for those properties, with the Chief Executive Officer to determine the most appropriate mechanism for delivery, including a rebate, discount, offset or equivalent mechanism”, and “a twelve month 30 percent discount on Meals on Wheels charges for eligible Frankston residents receiving the service in the 2026/2027 financial year.”
“Since community engagement closed on 14 December 2025, there have been significant changes in the financial conditions facing many Frankston residents, including renewed interest rate increases, ongoing cost of living pressure, and increased global fuel and energy uncertainty”, Cr Butler’s motion read. “In 2025, the Reserve Bank of Australia reduced the cash rate three times, and that in 2026 the Reserve Bank has now increased the cash rate to 4.35 percent, effectively reversing the 2025 reductions.” Continued page 2