Press Release
ISSUED BY AFFORDABLE AUCKLAND
Tolls

Toll Referendum a Waste of Money

Affordable Auckland’s Stephen Berry says proposals for a public referendum on road tolls and a regional fuel tax would be a complete waste of money. “The Len Brown-nosing Council’s spending is already far out of control. Funding a referendum on tolling and regional fuel tax proposals, which the Council has no power to implement, will just further exacerbate the budgetary crisis.”

Mr. Berry is not surprised Mayor Brown has chosen to break yet another election promise by voting for an average rates increase of 3.5%. “It was very clear months ago Brown was softening up the electorate to accept higher rates increases. First he proposed cutting popular and legitimate core spending on library services. Then he began trying to cut the budgets of local boards. Following the justifiable opposition to these steps he thinks he is well placed to defend his higher than promised rates increase.”

“The long exploited ratepayer isn’t buying Len’s game and realises the Council’s plan to fast-track the City Rail Loop is a major reason for the operating shortfall. The overwhelming majority of ratepayers who live outside the CBD get zero benefit from Brown’s legacy project but suffer greater rates increases as a result of it.”

Berry believes the actions of Auckland Council will result in increasingly vocal and visible opposition by ratepayers of Auckland which he actively encourages. “When our elected representatives turn the other way, we need to project our views at a volume they cannot ignore.”

Stephen Berry was Affordable Auckland’s candidate for Mayor in the 2013 election. He finished in third place..

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