Taxpayers’ Union slams Tauranga’s 12 percent rates hike, says rates capping is urgently needed
The Taxpayers’ Union has today slammed Tauranga City Council for its proposed 12 percent rates increase, saying more needs to be done to protect ratepayers.
Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, said:
“Rates capping is desperately needed to rein in reckless council spending—ratepayers are fed up with being treated like piggybanks to pay for endless vanity projects.”
“This 12 percent comes off last year’s 13.1 percent rates hike. That’s an average compound rates increase of more than 26 percent in the last two years alone—locals simply can’t afford that.”
“The irony is not lost on us that Council is taking feedback in its new $125 million offices complete with $470,000 leased barista coffee machines. We clearly have a council that has lost focus.”
“Introducing rates capping legislation will require councils like Tauranga City to live within their means and focus on just the basics. It’s just common sense at this point.”
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