Stunned Waitaki District ratepayers facing rates increases of up to 45 percent are calling for a government probe of council’s finances, with some worried people will lose their homes.
The council has been seeking feedback on three possible rates rises of 19 percent, 27 percent or 45 percent as it tries to plug a projected $14 million operating deficit for the next financial year.
Oamaru ratepayer Kurt Scriven said none of the three options felt feasible for residents, whose rates had already gone up about 30 percent over the past three years.
So the best option is a 19% increase and the worst a 45%. Outrageous. Heads should roll.
Ironically the Mayor stood on the following platform:
Affordability is our biggest issue, and we need to minimise council spend and find non-rate solutions to our funding challenges.
How can you campaign on that and then once elected say we need to hike rates from 19% to 45%???
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders
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