Ratepayer Funded Lobbyists Shouldn't Be Campaigning for More Taxes
2 JULY 2014
Responding to the announcement that Auckland councillor Penny Webster is Local Government NZ's review to find more ways of taxing
ratepayers,Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says:
“Ms Webster says that more money is needed for infrastructure, but Auckland Council’s spending blowouts are on
operational expenditure such as staff and operations. If Auckland Council needs more money, maybe it should be reviewing
whether all of the 811 staff earning more than $100,000 are really necessary.”
"Any alteration to the way local authorities levy taxes ought to be a public discussion, not one lead by publicly funded
lobbyists, LGNZ."
“Instead of promoting the interests of ratepayers, we’ve found LGNZ to be more interested in shielding the sector from
scrutiny. It is outrageous that New Zealand ratepayers are paying for an organised campaign to increase the tax burden
of local government.”
ENDS