INDEPENDENT NEWS

85,000 Ratepayers Have Not Paid Their ARC Rates

Published: Mon 22 Sep 2003 09:49 PM
More Than 85,000 Ratepayers Have Not Paid Their ARC Rate Demands.
ARC FINANCIAL REPORT TOTALLY INCOMPREHENSIBLE
Figures issued by the Auckland Regional Council today indicate that more than 85,000 ratepayers have not paid their rates as at today's date.
This represents a huge personal protest by individual ratepayers.
We are also totally confused by the ARC's Monthly Financial Reporting system which will be totally incomprehensible to the average ratepayer.
We find it difficult to equate figures reported earlier and these latest figures.
In consequence we are seeking an urgent meeting with ARC chair Gwen Bull and her financial officers to obtain clarity.
If we cannot do that we shall refer the matter to the Audit-General for investigation.
The ARC also said today it will take no legal action against non-payers until January next year, and only then after referring that matter back to elected members for decision.
Also today we are receiving calls from some ratepayers who did pay by their due dates but have been sent 'penalty' letters.
We believe that is yet another example of substantial inaccuracies in the ARC's $6.5 million computer services contract.
The ARC rates process appears to be descending into total chaos.

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