Three NSW south-east shire councils use KMPG to examine local government merger plan
Three New South Wales south east local government areas are putting a proposed merger plan under the microscope to see if it is in the best interest of ratepayers.
The Cooma-Monaro, Snowy River and Bombala Shires are using one of the world's biggest accountancy firms, KMPG, to analyse an amalgamation business plan.
The merger proposal has been triggered by a State Government move to rationalise local government.
The Cooma-Monaro Mayor, Dean Lynch, said the accounting exercise would show whether amalgamation was viable or if there were other ways to cut regional operating costs.
''I know for me as the Mayor, I am not prepared to go to our community until we have all the facts so at least we will be able to make an informed decision,'' he said.
''Further to this we have also appointed KMPG to do a resource business case which is something in the High Plains Forum we have been talking about for the last three years.''
Councillor Lynch said it was vital that councils were properly informed before they took any proposal to ratepayers.
''This may well show that there is absolutely no benefit in any merger whatsoever,'' he said.
''At the same time we are running in parallel the resource sharing business case which is going to give us the other side of the coin where if we don't merge there may be potential areas where we might be able to share our resources''