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The rates increase goes up, then down, then up again
Wellington.Scoop
The Wellington City Council has announced four different rates increases in the last four months.
In March, a 3.8 per cent rates increase was announced.
In April, things had changed and the council said a 4.1 per cent increase would be necessary.
Last Sunday, Mayor Wade-Brown announced that the increase had been cut to 3.3 per cent. Which sounded not too bad.
But today it seems that the increase has gone up again – the DomPost reports that after four days of meetings councillors have agreed to a 3.5 per cent increase.
Confused? Confusing? The council seems to have been too precipitate with its ever-changing rates announcements. And can we be sure that the 3.5 per cent increase will be the final decision? Apparently not. In A statement last night, Mayor Wade-Brown warned:
Rates are not yet finalised as councillors still have to consider and agree on funding for a replacement venue to the Town Hall, which requires earthquake strengthening. They will do this at a meeting on 21 June.
An amount of $4m or more is being considered for the temporary town hall, which doesn’t show much hope of the rates increase coming down in the event of yet another change.
Never in their meetings did our councillors even try to achieve a nil rates increase?
It’s called pandering to vocal interest groups who want others to pay for them, whether they’re Te Papa, Zealandia, Wellington Airport or any other outfit of the same ilk.
My slogan for the local election next year is ‘Cut the Fat & Trim Bones’ and the aim has to be a Zero % increase in rates even including inflation.
This year, 3.5% + GST = 4.03% increase. Every dollar we pay, costs us 4 cents more, yet no-one I know has enjoyed a 4% pay rise?
Then wait until Fran ‘tax ‘em until they scream then turn the screws again’ Wilde adds the regional council pot and shakes it to remove any remaining loose change.
I challenge Fran to come up with a Zero % rate hike, even if it means cutting her own pay.
There are two reasons for changes – the first is that staff make recommendations but elected members have a democratic right to change the recommendations. The second is that unike Central government, we have submissions on our rates which change our views!
Our costs for basic infrastructure maintenance (the largest oart of rates is spent on maintenance of roads, libraries, pools, parks, water and sewage, not discretionary grants) aren’t the same as cpi – not much bitumen in most people’s grocery!
In reply to Celia W-B:
Do elected members get to consider all submissions?
If officers do happen to draw the attention of elected members to a particular submission how do elected members ensure that “due consideration” is given to it as required by legislation?
I ask because I have drawn the attention of officers to deficiencies in their handling of at least two Long Term Plan submissions & it is important that the Council fulfils its legal obligations in respect of all submissions before it adopts the Long Term Plan – not afterwards!
I find Celia’s reply a bit light on the ground.
Two reasons were given for the adjustments to rates, but changes were made far more often than just twice.
I get the feeling we are not told the full story (and reasons) on rates adjustments.
And I am not entirely confident of the capabilities of staff, who have their recommendations changed by elected members, only to have the elected members’ adjustments changed again by submissions.
Are staff and elected members so much out of touch with reality?
Ferdinand Hendriks