Rates hike hot topic for 3000+

Hamiltonians have spoken out on the council’s budget plans with the city’s massive proposed rates hike a lightning rod for residents already struggling with rising costs.

With more than 3000 submissions landing on the Hamilton City Council’s Draft Long Term Plan the hot topic is unsurprisingly the proposed 19.9% rise, which itself lands in a cost of living crisis and limping economy.

The first question of the submission was How do we plan to manage the city’s finances?

There was no gentle way of saying it for Jo Davis, whose response along with all the others, is published on the council website.

“It’s criminal. It is far too much for the average, middle income rate payer. You represent us and need to revisit your books to make some changes. And ensure in future you stop this wasteful spending.”

She went on to say that she would like the council to stop the excessive number of cycle ways, speed bumps, in-lane bus stops.

Chris Banks doesn’t seem to have a problem with the proposals in his submission.

“I am not opposed to the fairly large rates increases proposed. I care much more about the sustainable operation of our city. We (and councils in general) have spent decades saving money for the current ratepayers are the expense of future ratepayers.”

He also doesn’t want to see any real reduced services from the council.

“None. Possibly reduce the mowing of parks, I don't think that will save much, but it is a good thing to do. Likewise, cut back on the street tree 'refreshing'. Leave the big old trees unless there is a genuine danger to people, property or services.

“I don't want any services removed, I would rather pay more rates.”

But Dave Rogers thought the council’s purse strings had been too loose for too long.

“Stop borrowing. Reduce the ridiculous debt that eats our rates. How about a debt of 0. Surely this must be a thought. No interest payments. Not at the mercy of fluctuations in interest rates. Stop building new stuff and wasting money ... Who is responsible for this stuff. Wake up!”

Gurpreet Singh saw plenty of public services citizens could do without.

“Stop library service. We [are] not living in [the] stone age. We all have internet. Cut bus routes and frequency. Most of the time buses running empty after 6pm.”

Submissions closed on Sunday and the council’s strategy and corporate planning manager, James Clarke, said they were currently being counted and collated.

“We've received around 3000 through the formal consultation process and around another 400 through a survey that we've been running in parallel, so that's a really good level of engagement.

“We were pleased with it, and it compares really well on a per capita basis to what I think they received in Auckland and Tauranga.”

Clarke said it was hard to compare to previous years because different questions were asked.

It was also too early to divulge what the theme of the submissions is. A two-person research and insight team was going through every response.

“It's a manual process and is quite labour intensive reading them all and just pulling out the key themes of the consultation.”

But he admits rates are likely to be a large topic.

“We would fully expect that to be something people would have strong views on,” Clarke said.

“And certainly at the engagement events I've been at around the community over the last month or so it's been one of the big topics of conversation, and you can see that on social media as well.”

The marketing budget for the long term plan was $50,000, which Clarke said it’s important to get the public engagement, due to the value councillors place on the community’s views.

“I think at any time, but in particular when we're in a difficult situation, as we are at the moment with the challenging financial environment, elected members are extremely keen to hear what people and how people think we should respond to the various challenges and opportunities we have.”

The submissions will be published in a report that will pull together the key themes from each question and will be publicly available.

Between May 15 and 17, councillors will hear verbal submissions, with the

The Long Term Plan is due to be adopted on July 4.