MEDIA RELEASE

LOW RATES OPTION MUST BE INCLUDED IN BUDGET CONSOLATION

14 DECEMBER 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A fiscally prudent option for rate raises of 2% or less and must be included in Auckland Council’s consultation documents in the lead up to Phil Goff’s first Auckland Council budget, says the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance. Tomorrow Councillors will vote on the fiscal options that will be put before the public for consultation, the draft of which do not include an option for limiting average rate rises to 2% .

Ratepayers’ Alliance Spokesperson, Jo Holmes, says:

“Phil Goff appears to want to limit the discussion on low rates by not putting it down as an option for officials to consult on. It’s an attempt to frame his 2.5% rates hike as the 'low rates’ when in actual fact it was the highest ‘pledge’ of all the mainstream mayoral candidates earlier in the year."

"This is the first real test of those Councillors who signed the Ratepayers’ Protection pledge and ran on a platform of low rates. Councillors Desley Simpson, Christine Fletcher, Dick Quax, Mike Lee and Greg Sayers are among those who pledged to keep annual rate hikes at 2% or less. Tomorrow we get to see who stands by their word and votes on the low-rates platform they stood on.”

ENDS

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