Rising charges

Following the article yesterday wherein it is reported rates have risen or fallen 2.5 per cent, depending on where we live, it would be more useful to research the overall effect after including every other levy being imposed, for petrol, wastewater, transport and so on. The army of spin doctors paid by the council can whitewash this till the cows come home, but cannot escape the fact that our pockets are being emptied by much more than 2.5 per cent. P. D. Patten, Albany.