Mayor’s progressive Income Tax unacceptable as alternative to rates.

Auckland should initiate a commission to review the rating system.

Auckland mayor Len Brown’s proposal to replace council rates with income tax will be unacceptable to ratepayers who will see it as a further step in the redistribution of wealth, and would be open to widespread avoidance,

It is also inappropriate to single out the elderly sector of the population as the main reason for the introduction of such a tax, there are plenty of others who suffer from high rates.

There are many groups in our community who are disadvantaged by the current rating system, either because they find rates unaffordable, or they resent paying for services they neither need nor want.

Representing one third of the nation’s ratepayers, the Auckland Council is perfectly placed to lead a funding review commission which would be tasked with finding alternatives to rates which are based on ‘ability to pay’ and ‘services received’.

ends

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell:
On What John Banks And Nick Smith Have In Common

The defence that John Banks has been offering to the charges of electoral fraud – that he didn’t read the document he signed, and therefore lacked the necessary criminal intent – is a fairly standard example of political business as usual.

At a time when political power is being centralised downtown in the Executive, responsibility is being re-located to the suburbs. The Beehive seeks to operate as a blame free, shame free environment. At all times, plausible deniability is to be maintained.

Being able to put distance between the Minister and the actions/outcomes/political fallout of policy is not simply the last desperate resort of scoundrels, but the first resort of the foot soldiers in ministerial service... More>>