On the front page you would have read about the Town of Gawler Council that has been spending more money that it actually had.

Naturally the belts have to be tightened.

But rates will also rise.

When you flicked to page three you could read how the Light Regional and Barossa councils have their hands out too.

The councils need an extra million dollars to fix up Gomersal Road.

What’s been going on? One council has blown its budget, and the other two can’t afford to fix roads within their boundaries.

It makes you wonder if the Barossa region isn’t over-governed. Surely we could run things more efficiently.

There are four local councils that cover various parts of the Barossa.

That’s an awful lot of bureaucracy for a region with a population of 20,000 (or just under 40,000 if you include Gawler).

Then we have four State Government electorates that incorporate different wedges.

And we cut the whole pie up another three ways for the Federal Government.

Confused?

By the end of the year you should be far wiser.

On your end of year holidays you will be able to reflect on 2010 as the ‘year of the election’.

Get set to vote for candidates in the State, Federal and Local elections this year.

Do you think there’s too many layers of government having a say on the same area?

Tell us how you would sort things out.

Write us a letter, or join our blog.