Waitakere Council vote to increase wastewater flat charges and their uniform annual general charge (UAGC). Working class families will face huge rate increases (LTCCP). WCC Press statement appears above as an attachment.

Wastewater up from $350 to $373. UAGC up from $600 to $628.

Waitakere City councillors have yet again ignored the majority of residents who called for the abolition of flat and user charges (over 300 submitters made this demand out of a total of 480 submissions received on the annual plan and LTCCP.)

Flat and user pays charges are already 80% or more of total rates for low/average valued homes. These increases will dramatically worsen this impact for the majority of residents. The working class and especially large families, pensioners and beneficiaries will be faced with far bigger increases than WCC’s proposed 5.50% rate increase. While yet again, wealthy property owners and big business will benefit.

“This is a blatant case of WCC councillors legislating in favor of the rich at the expense of everyone else. Public opinion is being ignored. Councillors who voted for these flat charges need to be dumped at the next election.”

“It is an outrage that in terms of the UAGC the biggest businesses, like Foodtown, pay the same as one family.”

“The majority of submitters called for a progressive rating system without flat and user charges. This would have represented at least a 40% rates decrease for thousands of residents in low to average valued properties.”

“Citizens Against Privatisation is calling for mass collective action around these issues. We are being conned.”

ENDS

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