Toilet payment unfair: Cochrane
A DEPARTING Clutha District councillor has fired a shot across the bowels.
Clinton ward Cr John Cochrane contacted the Otago Daily Times in advance of his final council meeting on Thursday to express concerns about perceived ‘‘unfairness’’ in the way variable rating elements were being charged by the council.
In particular, Mr Cochrane was unhappy with what appeared to be a disproportionate rates demand of $367.23 for the district’s public toilets on his most recent bill.
He said although he had participated in the council planning process enshrining the rating policy, the ‘‘real life’’ financial consequences of council decisions for ratepayers sometimes only became apparent after the fact.
‘‘This isn’t a discussion about whether we should be paying for toilets — we should. But when I saw this bill and compared it to a relative’s in Balclutha, who lives in an average, threebedroom house, I’m paying 42 times more for these facilities than them [$8.75]. Surely that’s not fair to me, or others in the same situation?’’
Mr Cochrane, a sheep and beef farmer whose farm has a rateable value in the several millions, acknowledged farmers were placed exceptionally at the upper end of the ratings spectrum, but maintained a principle of fairness was at stake.
He wanted to see rating elements such as toilets placed within the council’s uniform annual general charge (UAGC), which charged all ratepayers equally at a flat rate.
‘‘What’s happened is the council has run out of room to place toilets fully on the UAGC, so come up with this multiplier for about half the annual costs. One look at this bill compared to the average shows that’s not working, and is just plain wrong.’’
Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan described Mr Cochrane’s complaint as ‘‘potentially divisive’’.
‘‘Councils are restricted by the limited number of options we have to structure the apportionment of rates.
‘‘I hate the divisive potential this argument may produce. The fairness of our overall rating would struggle with what has been suggested.’’
He said moving public toilets to the UAGC could produce ‘‘an even more perverse outcome’’.
‘‘In my time as mayor . . . the overall rural rate has remained static and, with the limited options available, the present allocation is morally the fairest we could hope for.’’