Cullen Recommends Fivefold Increase In Auckland Rates
Rodney Hide Tuesday, 16 May 2006 Press Releases - Local Government
Rodney Hide, MP for Epsom and the Leader of ACT, is telling Government that Auckland ratepayers cannot afford Cullen's
recommended rates hike and Labour should stop dumping transport costs onto local government.
"Fixing Auckland's traffic will benefit all Kiwis", Mr Hide said.
"Cullen's suggested 17% increase, compounding over the next 10 years, would see Auckland rates increase fivefold.
"That's a price which Aucklanders simply cannot afford to pay.
"The 'Minister for Auckland', Judith Tizard, should stand up for the city's ratepayers and tell Doctor Cullen to get
real.
"Labour needs to stop dumping tough policies like transport onto local government.
"The Allen Consulting Group estimates that the financial benefit to New Zealand of completing the Western Ring Route
would be $838 million a year.
"That's enough money to employ almost 22,500 new teachers, or 21,000 new nurses, or 19,500 extra police.
"Government should accept responsibility and move ahead with the Western Ring Route in Thursday's budget", Mr Hide said.
ENDS