Incredible response from Auckland ratepayers to Long-term Plan

26 March 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Auckland ratepayers have submitted en masse to reject Phil Goff’s plan to hike rates and continue wasteful spending, says the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance. The Alliance has gathered 3,851 public submissions to the Council in the 72 hours following the launch of the ratepayers.nz tool on Friday.

Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson Jo Holmes says, “On Saturday morning, we were averaging about one submission a minute. It’s the biggest response to a Ratepayers’ Alliance campaign that we seen yet.”

“The numbers show how ratepayers have been disillusioned by Auckland Council’s submission forms, which essentially ask ratepayers if they want a bit more spending, a lot more spending, or a truckload more spending. Our tool is allowing ratepayers to fight back and call for the Mayor to stick to his pre-election promises to tighten the Council’s belt.”

“Earlier in the month, Phil Goff was boasting that 50% of the 2,900 submissions Council had received were supportive of a fuel tax. His numbers will now be way off, as our members have filed 842 submissions specifically against the fuel tax just since Friday.”

“Tomorrow at the Town Hall we will make our own submission on the Long-term Plan and explain how it can fund infrastructure without new charges (such as the Mayor’s proposed regional fuel tax) or cuts to services (such as making rubbish pickup fortnightly). We have invited our members to join us in the chamber to ensure ratepayers’ voices are heard.”

When: 11am, Tuesday 27 March 2018 (15-minute time slot)
Where: Reception Lounge, Level 2, Auckland Town Hall, 305 Queen Street.

ENDS

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