Responding to reports of New Plymouth District Council’s $1.6 million rates surplus, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says:
“A rates surplus means the Council has taken more from the people of New Plymouth than it needs. It shouldn’t use this
surplus on unbudgeted ‘nice-to-have’ initiatives. If the economic development projects were so important, the Council
would have budgeted for them.”
“This is classic ‘we know how to spend your money better than you do’ arrogance from a local council.”
“The money should be returned to those who paid it: either taken off the next rates bill, or used to pay down debt for
future ratepayers.”