Regardless of how efficient a council runs, ratepayers will always bleat about perceived wastage of funds.

The state government, too, has got in on the act, with cost-shifting and rate-capping putting unprecedented pressure on councils in recent years. So let’s get this out of the way first.

Councils, and that includes Junee Shire Council, could all run leaner.

The nature of bureaucracy dictates that the private sector can always drive efficiency better than the public sector.

But councils are a necessary evil and are in fact the closest level of government to the people.

The debate then must be about what council structure gives ratepayers the best bang for their buck.

The state government believes enticing councils to merge, using a carrot and stick approach, will save the state a considerable sum.

And they may be right – but at what cost.

Junee mayor Neil Smith reckons by making us part of a “super council”, the result might be less accountability for council staff and less service to the community. And if appears, in principle, the community agrees.

More than 80 per cent of public submissions to council about a possible merger reject the idea. It appears the people have spoken. But is the state government listening?