THE result of a residential poll on proposed rate rises has been questioned after it was revealed that Lake Macquarie City Council staff were permitted to vote in the survey.
Council said the survey attracted 3257 respondents, and that the results showed the community clearly supported a residential rate rise of 70 per cent over seven years.
Local businessman Kevin Thompson told the Newcastle Herald this week that council staff had been "briefed and organised" to vote.
He argued that council staff should not have been permitted to take part in a community survey.
Mayor Greg Piper disagreed. He said council employees who were Lake Macquarie residents had "every right" to vote in the survey.
The council has almost 900 full-time equivalent staff. It is not known how many voted.
Email a friend