Councillors in wealthy electorate branded Christmas Grinches after refusing to spend $15k of their million-dollar budget on festive decorations

Councillors in a wealthy electorate have been crowned unofficial Christmas Grinches after they voted against spending a measly $15,000 on festive decorations. 

Earlier this year, councillors at the cashed-up Knox City Council knocked back a motion to buy large red ribbons for shopping precincts across the eastern suburbs because it was a ‘waste of ratepayer money’.

The plan to spread a little merry joy and Christmas cheer in the community’s major shopping precincts was knocked back by six of the council’s nine councillors.

The Scrooge move prompted those councillors who voted for the idea to label their colleagues ‘grinches’ with a penchant for ‘red tape’ rather than red ribbons. 

‘Please tell me I’ve got this right? Knox City Council has an annual budget in 2025-26 of $222.3million in revenue, expenditure of $193.2million and an anticipated operating surplus of $29.1million,’ Victorian Liberal MP Kim Wells wrote on Facebook. 

‘In 2025-26, there is budgeted expenditure of $1.96million on Arts and Culture and $742,000 on Festivals and Events, which will cover a wide range of community events.

‘Yet the Christmas grinches at Knox City Council can’t find $15,000 for Christmas decorations at local neighbourhood shopping centres to help boost festive spirit and trade at an important time for Knox small businesses and residents. 

‘Unfortunately, it seems red tape is well and truly alive at Knox City Council instead of red bows to brighten up Christmas cheer at our local shopping centres.’ 

Aussies were quick to share their thoughts on the move. 

‘If they all take a pay cut they could put a lot of Christmas things up,’ one local wrote. 

‘Plenty of money to spend on all their special weeks. Time we voted out the Councillors who voted for this. Worst Councillors in over 20 years,’ another said. 

The $15,000 red bow idea was an alternative put up to the council by Cr Robert Williams – who was contacted for comment – instead of a previously proposed plan to spend $50,000 on Christmas decorations.

Another proposal to allow traders to set up Christmas trees on public streets without paying for the permit was also given the Scrooge treatment.

Yarra Council has also come under fire for a lack of festive decorations despite the new independent-led council promising to bring Christmas cheer to the area.

The Stephen Jolly-led council brought back annual Christmas Carols evenings with this year’s event held at Burnley Park near Richmond on December 11.

Yarra also spent a small-fortune festooning it’s three town halls at Fitzroy, Richmond and Collingwood with eye-catching Christmas decorations and lights. 

However, some residents and traders have complained about a lack of festive decorations at the popular Fitzroy North village precinct.

The inner-city precinct in earshot of Edinburgh Gardens and inhabited by hipsters trend-setters and blue-collared families, is a magnet for tourists and locals chasing trendy bars, boutique fashion and chic cafés. 

It appears only a few ‘Merry Christmas Yarra’ posters have been plastered discreetly to some street bins around the St Georges Road, Scotchmer Street and Best Street – and nowhere else. 

Fitzroy North volunteer Ignacio Inchausti said he happened upon the meagre decorations after throwing some litter in the bin.

‘I haven’t noticed the spirit of Christmas around the streets in my neighbourhood this year. The Yarra City Council have underwhelmed this year with partly hidden, low-level decorative public bins, partly obscured by vegetation,’ he told Daily Mail.

‘I even found one sign covered over by a rather large and rampaging weed. It’s sad to see that a time to try to lift sagging spirits, restore a sense of cheer and goodwill is not supported more prominently by our local council.’

Mayor Jolly said it was about striving for ‘balance’ in what a council should spend on Christmas decorations, while reminding it was under his leadership the Yarra had revitalised the festive spirit after the ‘Greenies did nothing’.

‘If we start doing every shopping strip in Yarra, we’re talking about millions of dollars, we’ll do it, if the locals want it because I do what the locals want I don’t think they do want it,’ Mayor Jolly told Daily Mail. 

‘It’s usually the same people who complain about this kind of stuff are the same who complain when councils waste money.

‘If we do the area near Piedimonte’s [Fitzroy North village] then we have to do Queens Parade, Smith Street, Brunswick Street, who is going to for this? Ratepayers? Father Christmas isn’t going to pay for this.’

In the city’s north-west, a Melbourne father who went atomic on decorating his home with Christmas decorations was threatened with a $9,000 fine from Hume Council.

Stephen Jacobs, 44, poured thousands of dollars and two months of work into creating the festive set up outside his Craigieburn house.

Mr Jacobs believed he had verbal approval from Hume council officers to set up his colourful display which includes a Santa, decorative Christmas balls and a Grinch.

However, Mr Jacobs received a letter from the council demanding the display be removed before December 23 or he would be slapped with the hefty fine. 

Mr Jacobs said he was ‘disappointed’ with the council’s takedown order despite him ‘trying to do the right thing from the start’.

He said he will abide by the decision but held out hope the council would give him some ‘leeway’ considering he had spent ‘thousands’ on the decorations.

‘Thousands of people have been by and everyone loves it and supports me, but the council are just being real Grinches about it and want it down,’ Mr Jacobs said.

Hume Council was contacted for comment.

Spotted other Grinch council offenders? Email Paul.Shapiro@dailymail.com.au.