Outrage at proposed rates rise

Horowhenua councillors are being bombarded with concerns about spending and the proposed rates rise of 6.9 per cent.

The Horowhenua District Council has been hearing submissions about its draft annual plan over two days this week.

On Wednesday and yesterday, one person after another entered the Zoom conference with concerns about the council’s debt, ‘‘extravagant projects’’ and large rates rises.

Suzanne Macfarlane has lived in Shannon for three years and said the cost of rates and continued rises would eventually drive her away.

She was appalled at the proposed increase. ‘‘In Shannon, most people are lower socio-economic and most of us are struggling with the increase in rates.’’

As a pensioner, it was difficult to keep up with continued rises on a low, fixed income.

Macfarlane told councillors she set 50 per cent of her pension payments aside for her mortgage and rates.

‘‘I have to live on a very strict budget and if I wasn’t prudent with my fortnightly superannuation I would be in a pickle of debt, as you are.’’

Member of the Manawatu¯ Estuary Trust and Foxton Shannon Cooperating Parish Kelvin Lane said he was taken aback by the proposed rates rise. ‘‘What I amconcerned about is that we are holding our ratepayers to ransom.’’

At yesterday’s hearing, Horowhenua Grey Power president Terence Hemmingsen expressed concern about the effect a 6.9 per cent rise would have on pensioners, who were asset rich and cash poor.

The proposal for a splash pad at Levin’s Jubilee Park to replace the paddling pool due for demolition or an upgrade in the next few years was a popular topic among submitters.

It was in the pipeline before the coronavirus outbreak.

But now it was described by ratepayers this week as ‘‘excessive spending’’.

Mayor Bernie Wanden said the council was re-evaluating all its expenditure and costs, including the proposed rates rise.