Citizens and Ratepayers Profligate with Ratepayers’ money

A last minute gift by Auckland ratepayers of a unbudgeted $2 million dollars was given to Tennis Auckland yesterday, when they only asked for $1.35 million from the Council.

At yesterday’s Finance Committee of the Auckland City Council a $2 million grant was made to Auckland Tennis for the installation of the roof truss for the new ASB Tennis Centre in Parnell replacing the Stanley Street tennis courts.

Councillor Glenda Fryer said, “Tennis Auckland was handed $650,000 more than they asked for. The whole $2 million is unbudgeted. I will be asking the Auckland Transition Authority to carefully scrutinise the whole process of this last minute gift. I believe C&R is being exceedingly over generous in their gift, at a time when regional priorities for funding amenities for the new Auckland Council are only a few months away from being set.”

Councillor Cathy Casey said, “Auckland City Council makes many loans - to Eden Park, the Stardome Observatory, MOTAT to name a few. No explanation was given to me as to why C&R chose instead to give a grant of $2million of ratepayer funds. It is not in our budget. In giving a grant rather than a loan, we will be short changing another community group.”

Councillor Richard Northey said, “I object to the profligate manner in which Citizens and Ratepayers (C&R) councillors promise unbudgeted ratepayer funds at the 11th hour of Auckland City Council’s existence. Tennis Auckland approached Auckland City for a $1.35 million grant to install a weatherproof retractable roof over the centre court at the new Tennis Centre ‘at some future date’. I feel that a loan would have been the most responsible governance decision in this case.”

The Auckland Transition Authority is presently scrutinising an Auckland City Council grant of $1.5 million given to the Royal Akarana Yacht Club against the financial advice of Council officers.

ENDS

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