No Change In ARC Rating Policies - Rebellion Will Get Bigger.

The REGIONAL RATEPAYERS REBELLION

The campaign fighting the Auckland Regional Council's rating polices and rates increases.

MEDIA RELEASE 22 March 2004

RATEPAYERS WILL BE ANGRY AS ARC REFUSES TO CHANGE RATING POLICIES.

FORECAST OF BIGGER REBELLION WHEN RATES SET THIS YEAR.

Statement from David Thornton

The Auckland Regional Council's decision today to stick with its current rates policy will be a huge disappointment to Auckland ratepayers and residents.

The ARC says it is including other options, including business differentials and a revised and more targeted transport, and if people want those options they will need to make submissions to the new Regional Community Plan.

Disenchanted ratepayers will have little faith that this council will listen to submissions to the Plan any more than it did last year when an overwhelming number of submissions call for the retention of business differentials and a return to land value as the basis for rates.

Despite that I call on all ratepayers to make submissions and to deluge the ARC with demands that the rating system be changed.

If the ARC does not make changes I predict that the rebellion against the next rates bills will be even more fiery and widespread than we saw last year.

In the end the people will decide at the local elections in October.

I have a feeling that all of those councillors who are sticking to the present system will be out of office on 10th October.

The ARC also failed to disclose today how many ratepayers are still withholding all or part of their rates - and not one councillor bothered to ask that question.

I will be seeking these figures tomorrow, but I believe there are more than 50,000 ratepayers in this category

Ends.

Contact, campaign spokesman, DAVID THORNTON [Chairman of the Glenfield Ratepayers]
david@Kandu.co.nz

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