Big rates rise stuns Aotea residents
51-54 Sport
Aotea residents hit with a double-blow on their latest rates bill want answers from Porirua City Council about where the money is going.
Most Porirua ratepayers faced rates rises this year with an average increase of about 5.7 per cent – about $126 a year on a home worth $381,000.
Three- yearly property valuations – which determine residents’ rates – have also just been carried out, with Aotea residents subject to one of the biggest bumps – an average 7 per cent.
Aotea Residents Association chairman Rodney Strong said it appeared rates for residents in the suburb were between 8 and 15 per cent higher than last year.
‘‘It was a considerable rates rise and it came as quite a shock to some people – there was no real forewarning,’’ he said.
Strong said Aotea residents did not want improvements or extra services specific to their area. They just wanted to know where the money was going.
‘‘Why are we paying so much more to live 30km down the road [from Wellington]?’’
Aotea resident Allan Blithe said he was shocked his rates had risen from about $2800 last year to $3300 this year – a nearly 20 per cent rise.
‘‘We’re certainly not receiving 20 per cent more in services,’’ he said.
The value of the Blithes’ house had risen from $540,000 to $590,000, but it still didn’t explain the large increase.
Other suburbs had increases, but not nearly as high as Aotea. Ascot Park and Pukerua Bay’s house values went up 3 per cent, Camborne was up 1 per cent, and Whitby, Titahi Bay and Cannons Creek dropped 1 per cent.
Porirua mayor Nick Leggett said it was unfortunate Aotea had been hit with such a big increase, and the council should have warned them before invoices were sent.
‘‘People need to know the reasons. It’s not about making people understand, it’s just about informing them,’’ he said.