Stadium benefits

THE 200910 financial year was the one and only year the DCC residential rates invoice showed a contribution for Forsyth Barr Stadium funding.

In our Signal Hill Rd location, the 200910 stadium cost was $88.29. In subsequent years, there has been no separate stadium amount declared in rates invoices and one is left wondering about the current stadium cost to ratepayers and why a once-declared cost is no longer given.

In response to my request, the DCC has provided data which shows, for our property, the cost has risen from $89 in 201011 to $154 in 201314 and to $186 (based on a capital value of $400,000) in 201819.

This is a 110% rise of the stadium contribution over a period when our residential rates have risen by 41%. It is likely these relative rises are fairly typical of individual properties, even with variations in relative value.

Thus it appears the oncedeclared stadium contribution to residential rates has been subsequently buried as it has risen disproportionately to the overall rates increases.

So isn’t it time for residential ratepayers, who have shouldered this significant and rising rates cost, to obtain discount benefit when attending stadium events enjoyed by many who do not directly contribute to this rates cost?

Such a ratepayer discount may well enhance attendance and improve stadium financial performance.

Jim McQuillan

Opoho