Join Us
Joining the Taxpayers' Union costs only $25 and entitles you to attend our annual conference, AGM and other events.
Watts hands councils $400 million while ratepayers wait
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the Government’s decision to hand councils $400 million in “growth incentives” while walking slow to bring council costs under control by capping rates now.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“Local Government Minister Simon Watts has let ratepayers down. Handing councils $400 million in additional revenue without bringing forward a rates cap means councils are under even less pressure to rein in their costs.”
“Town Halls don’t have a revenue problem, they have a spending problem. Giving councils a bailout in the form of a new taxpayer-funded subsidy, no matter how good the intent, is akin to funding more beer for an alcoholic."
"Giving councils more revenue before forcing discipline is the wrong way around."
“A rates cap should have come first. Without it, extra revenue will simply give councils more room to avoid the hard decisions."
“Simon Watts should be protecting ratepayers from runaway councils, not handing councils $400 million and hoping they suddenly discover restraint.”
Blame for Auckland Council's record high rates hike rests on North Shore MP Simon Watts
The Taxpayers’ Union is blaming Local Government Minister Simon Watts for the biggest rates hike in Super City.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
"Simon Watts promised to cap rates, but bizarrely delayed the implementation until the next term of Parliament. That means Auckland Council is able to blow up rates bills now, and will fully admit it's to beat the new law."
“Rather than be forced to deliver the savings promised when the Super City was established, yet again Auckland Council has chosen to dig deeper into the pockets of struggling ratepayers."
“Local Government Minister Simon Watts has let Aucklanders down. Unfortunately, this just a harbinger of what is to come in town halls across the country as councils clamber to lock in higher rates before a cap takes effect in 2029.”
"It's also a major warning to ratepayers elsewhere who are staring down the barrel of forced amalgamations. Far from saving money, the Auckland example shows Watts seems to empower high rates and more wasteful council spending."