Rates Rocket Released

In an pre-emptive move today the Deputy Mayor and Mayor released their intention to push for a 9.7% rate increase across Auckland. This will be translated into an average increase in rates of 10% but a guaranteed increase of over 30% for many Aucklanders.

The leader of the Citizens and Ratepayers team on the Auckland City Council, Councillor Scott Milne said "this announcement is outrageous .In an environment of 2.5% inflation and where rates rises in the previous term of council were held to inflation an increase of 10% is unacceptable. It clearly demonstrates that Bruce Hucker is running the city as it is one of the strongest socialist, left leaning documents to come from city hall in decades.

It comes prior to the Annual Plan Direction Setting meeting to be held next week which is the time honoured and legally required debating forum for these matters. It will see owners of high value homes facing rate increases in excess of 30% as the general charge is savagely reduced; a move contrary to most other councils around the country which are increasing general charges because of their inherent fairness.

A clear signal has been sent that the left leaning elements of council also wish to see the city subsidise cheaper housing; a move contrary to the previous council that sold it's pensioner housing stock back to the New Zealand government for $83 million believing that this is a central government responsibility."

"While the Mayor comments that he has a mandate for these initiatives both he and the Deputy Mayor were deafeningly silent prior to the election about a 10% rates increase, as where the Action Hobson Councillors who have supported the Deputy Mayor and the Labour/City Vision alliance. Combine that with the somewhat cavalier attitude to due process in consultation and Auckland could be a fiery place to be in the weeks to come", he added.

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