It’s an annual balancing act of rising costs, dwindling grants and ever-increasing demand for community services versus providing good roads, rubbish collection and other things the community expects at reasonable prices.

Unfortunately, it usually means property rates bills will rise higher than the national CPI figure.

Ratepayers understandably don’t like the pain of extra bills and that’s something the Andrews government is aiming to ease with its proposed Fair Go rates capping for next year.

A discussion paper on the controversial issue was released yesterday by the Essential Services Commission giving communities and councils a chance to have their say.

Already councils have expressed concern  the cap will restrict their ability to cover cost rises outside CPI  including rubbish and roadmaking materials.

The motive behind Fair Go is admirable from the ratepayers’ point of  view after years of enduring what seems to be excessive increases in rates bills.

However, if there’s a rigid enforcing of the cap ratepayers could find their kindergartens, childcare centres, sports venues, public gardens and events being cut back.

It will be a test of how efficiently councils can run their operations and still provide the range of  services we’ve come to expect for generations.

Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins has indicated councils wanting to exceed the cap will be required to justify their spending.

What lies ahead is either a new era in efficient council operations or a no-frills system where residents are provided with just the basics.

Let’s hope communities and councils take advantage of  the opportunity to lodge submissions and the decision to be announced will be fair and sensible.