The ludicrous claim from North Sydney council that private religious schools should pay rates voluntarily to rescue their budget after the swimming pool fiasco must be challenged (“Catholic parents fear big fee slug”, DT, 19/4). If it happens, parents would be paying council rates twice. Other ratepayers might claim in court the equal right to make their rates voluntary also. Will the state government receive a rates notice for all the public schools too? Justifying the outrageous claim on the basis of the small area covered by the council, there have been no recent boundary changes and the limited revenue sources were obvious before the swimming pool refurbishment started. A funding partnership before the project began might have been a wiser strategy. Attacking those institutions which are the gems on their metropolitan landscape is proof positive that wisdom is indeed in short supply north of the harbour and appointing an administrator is overdue. Alan Sexton, North Parramatta 22Apr2025