Voters should decide on Councillors’ fate

Hamilton City Councillors who believe they are absent from blame for Audit New Zealand’s damning findings into Hamilton’s V8 street race should allow voters to decide, according to Property Council New Zealand.

Property Council Waikato Branch President Graham Dwyer said Hamilton City Council had a legacy of debt, fuelled by overspending. “The V8 street race is an obvious example of local government spending that lacked focus and where costs were passed on to ratepayers.

“We welcome the Audit New Zealand report and note the internal changes taking place within Hamilton City Council.

“But Councillors too need to act responsibly and Property Council encourages those who believe they are exempt of responsibility to test their resolve by offering themselves for re-election.”

Audit New Zealand’s report is an example of irresponsible local government spending that must be addressed through a new unitary authority.

In a policy document released earlier this year, Property Council argued Hamilton City Council needed to get its financial house in order to accommodate future growth.

Among the recommended measures in the document, Initiatives for Hamilton, Property Council argued for the formation of a new unitary authority for the Waikato, which needed to eliminate non- core spending.

A new unitary council would also need to provide Hamiltonians with better information about current and future projected spending within local government.

“Hamilton’s economy has underperformed for too long. Ratepayers have been forced to pay more, without receiving better value for money. This has to change.”

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