Rates rise 4

Under all previous mayors the rates went up by 2 or 3 per cent. Last mayor told me she will fix the rates increase at 3.8 per cent that will [offset] the $40 million debt created by V8s. I trusted her and agreed to it although it should have been 2 or 3 per cent as before.

Then the capital value system was brought in to satisfy the previous government and CBD property owners and residential rates were going up by more than 10 per cent. All middle and low income earners do not get $60,000 wage increase to pay higher rates.

During the last three years, beggars have increased in Hamilton streets and shopping malls. If you dream of putting up the rates by 16.5 per cent, I will not be surprised to see more and more people begging in Hamilton streets.

In the last 10 years more houses have been built in Hamilton. Council is getting more and more money as rates, no need to cut the services the council provides the community.

Read the comments the community has made about the council in the websites regarding the 16.5 per cent dreamworld. Go [out to] the streets and speak to the local community and understand how they feel about the present Hamilton City Council administration. Rates should not go over the cost of living index. [There is] no need to cut services; cut your pet projects and hidden agendas, then you can balance your books.

Mano Manoharan

Hamilton