RATES 2023

I have received a letter from Horowhenua District Council regarding the rates for this current 2023 – 2024 financial year.

The increase of $708.81 in my case is markedly more than one of last year’s regular payments being a 31% overall increase. This is a few dollars more than my current net superannuation two-weekly allowance: i.e., once every three months I will have no income for a two-week period. I have been informed that the average increase in this year’s rates is 7.9 %. The HDC advice shows that in my case the increase will be $391.80 – but that excludes the property revaluation and the effect of the policy change to how the rural rates are allocated to support the urbanites. My age means that life insurance is no longer required. However, property and contents policies, coupled with minor vehicle policies while reduced to the minimum level are charged on the 20th of each month. Variations occur according to the number of days each period, but steadily climb. Currently the monthly premium is over $500 but seems to increase every three months or so. Annual rates and insurances aggregate to about $9,000 in round figures or about 48% of my net income. It is NOT trite to note that I suspect that no Councillor or staff member would expect to pay about 48% of their income on fixed overheads. In one case they cannot control the charge. In the other they can, but recent events have shown how risky this can be as adverse weather destroys entire communities.

May I suggest that immediately following COVID-19 which is still with us, this is not the correct time to attempt a major re-apportionment of the division of responsibility for Rural vs Urban rates, nor is it ever the correct time for a 31% increase.

ERROL C. BROWN

Ratepayer, Horowhenua District