Voters Deserve Specifics on Rates

With the addition of a sixth candidate to the Mayoral race, Affordable Auckland candidate Stephen Berry believes it is time some other candidates started offering specifics about how they will control rates increases. “I am the only candidate so far who has stated categorically that I will keep rates increases below inflation and provided concrete examples of how this can be done.”

Stephen Berry has committed to ensuring the Council only funds its legal obligations as specified in Section 11A of the Local Government Act. “Let’s start with ATEED’s $250 million corporate welfare program that it dresses up as economic development but in reality is a form of wealth distribution. Auckland Council also needs to review the $60 million it spends on the arts annually; the trendier form of corporate welfare.”

“At this stage, the leading candidates have expressed aspirations and platitudes without anything concrete to back their claims up. Phil Goff waxes lyrically about reducing waste without any examples of what he would do differently. Veronica Crone has mentioned lower rates yet deliberately kept her candidacy launch policy-free, stating she wants to spend time listening to Aucklanders. It’s a noble idea but Aucklanders will quickly become inpatient with those who run on listening alone.”

Stephen Berry also believes another way to get rates down is to arrest the hyper-inflation in the housing market by taking steps to open up supply. “Special Housing Areas are a band-aid and will not be effective because each one still has to be centrally planned. Removing the urban boundary which constricts residential construction and forces up land prices through artificial shortages then rates will reduce because they are levied based on people’s property value.”

“Finally we need to be realistic about the need to sell some council assets to fund future infrastructure because Aucklanders will not tolerate increased rates now or in the future as a consequence of excessive borrowing. Phil Goff is living in lala-land if he thinks he can get around this by pumping central government for extra cash.”

Stephen Berry also ran for the Auckland Mayoralty in 2013. He finished in third place with 4% of the vote.

ENDS

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