Cut spending, ask ratepayers
Rural ratepayers have lined up to ask their district councils to lower spending, chop out bigbudget projects and take pay cuts to cushion the economic impact of Covid-19 over the next financial year.
Those were the expectations put on Waipa¯ and Waitomo district councils, which each kicked off their annual plan hearings yesterday.
Waitomo signalled an average rates increase of 1.54 per cent but its mayor John Robertson asked his councillors to accept a ‘‘rate freeze’’ to lower the financial burden on the community.
It didn’t gain favour with his six district councillors though, who voted to go ahead with the increase.
At the beginning of the hearing, the council heard from Katrina Winn, a former Papakura Community Board member under the Auckland Council, who moved to the district in 2019.
Winn presented a petition supporting a rates freeze, which had gathered about 300 signatures within 48 hours of appearing on a community social media page.
It asked for a ‘‘common sense response’’ to the impact of Covid19 and suggested a rates freeze was in line with recommendations from top economists around the country.
‘‘We ask the mayor and the councillors to put their political agendas aside and look at the financial facts and consider the unprecedented impact of Covid-19 on the community, which will be greater on this community than others.
‘‘And to make a decision of the times were are in and one that benefits the wellbeing of the people.’’
Councillors asked whether a blanket approach, such as a rates freeze, was the best option rather than targeting people that needed help the most.
Winn said there had to be justification for increasing rates and the current economic climate did not warrant one.
Waipa¯ District Council initially proposed an average rates increase of 4.2 per cent but it was revising its budget and expected to deliver an updated rates forecast on June 9.
Like Waitomo, Waipa¯’s submitters put the pressure on to
Petitioner
lower expenses.
There were 42 submissions to Waipa¯’s annual plan, 14 requested to present their submissions via audio-visual link yesterday.
Access to rates rebate featured highly among the written submissions.
Figures from the council showed from the start of the lockdown, March 23 to May 26, there had been 108 enquiries via phone, email, online and face-toface with staff about rebates, people asking to apply or be added to a mailing list.
There were 76 rebate applications submitted during this time, lower than the 103 recorded for the same time in 2019.
But council staff were contacting all who had previously used the rebate to see if they needed help over the 2020-21 year.
The Property Council of New Zealand also submitted, asking the Waipa¯ council to defer development contributions, the fees property developers have to pay before starting construction.
‘‘At a time when development is stagnant, this will benefit members when developers try to return to business as usual,’’ the property council said.
Another submitter, Te Awamutu resident Bernard Westerbaan, wrote asking the council reduce management salaries by 20 per cent ‘‘or more’’, to recognise the hard economic times ahead.
Waipa¯ District Council has set aside two days to consider submissions. All councils have to approve annual plans by June 30.