Glimmer Of Hope From Rates Inquiry Head

Rates Will Be Key Issue At October Local Body Elections.

The statement, from Rates Inquiry chairman David Shand, that council rates ‘will not be affordable in 10 years’ is a breakthrough for the NoMoreRates campaign.

Mr Shand’s speech to the Local Government Conference in Dunedin also indicated that the Inquiry team had taken on board the stength of feeling of the hundreds of ratepayers who made submissions to the Inquiry.

Although Mr Shand did not release any of the Inquiry’s recommendations he made it clear that the final report would contain a ‘detailed program of action’

Unfortunately Mr Shand also pointed out that there was ‘no quick fix’ to the problems affecting local government funding issues.

This could be bad news for those ratepayers who are already under real financial pressure from high increases of the last three years.

Neverthless there is now a glimmer of hope that politicians at all levels will accept what we have been telling them for years – the present council rating system is unsustainable and radical changes are needed urgently.

Meanwhile, if the final recommendations of the Rates Inquiry - due at the end of the month – include the need for restraints on council expenditure the spotlight will then swing to local body elections in October where rates will be the the key issue in councils throughout the country.

Ends.

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