Mayor proposes to penalise business with quick rates fix

October 30, 2014

Mayor proposes to penalise business with quick rates fix

Business is disappointed the Auckland Mayor proposes that the Council should keep an unfair rates burden on business, says Kim Campbell, Chief Executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association.

"We need friendlier business practices from Council," Mr Campbell said.

"Keeping business rates higher than residential rates is unfair.

"We call on the Auckland Council to vote the proposal down.

"The Auckland Plan makes very clear the city's future depends on large increases in business activity and keeping the business differential high is no way to help with this.

"The real answer to the Mayor's dilemma of high rate increases for some residences would be to increase the Uniform Annual General Charge to the maximum permitted by law.

"This would decrease the severity of rates increases on those residential properties most affected by the recent high valuation increases."

ENDS

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