Media release 13 Feb 2012

Statement from David Thornton

Dump the most liveable city vision – and impose financial discipline on rate increases.

Auckland Mayor Len Brown has ignored all the early warnings that ratepayers are not interested in paying significant rate increases to fund his ‘most liveable city’ vision.

The cost of implementing Mr Brown’s vision will result in thousands of ratepayers and residents leaving the city which is rapidly moving to be un-liveable because it will be un-affordable.

The Mayor’s list of options to pay for his dream transport solution include many new taxes as well as significant increases in rates – and the Prime Minister has already said he does not believe Aucklanders can afford new taxes in the current economic situation.

On top of that the Mayor is already talking about limiting rates increases to no more than 10% as a result of the new rating system which comes into force on 1st July.

And that is before rate increases to pay for the Mayor’s transport dreams.

Mayor Brown and his Council need to put a brake on all new spending – and all new taxation – and instead impose a discipline of limiting rate increases to no more than the rate of inflation, and then prepare budgets within that restraint.

Auckland is already rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities – why do we need to be Number One? Especially when it comes at a cost most Aucklanders are either unable or unwilling to pay. Or both.

ends

© Scoop Media