Public consultation aims to reach more Aucklanders
Media release
23 January 2015
Public consultation aims to reach more Aucklanders
Auckland Council wants as many Aucklanders as possible to have a say on the region’s 10-year budget, with feedback being sought online, at public events or through a feedback form going to all households.
People will have over seven weeks (23 Jan – 16 March) to have their say before final decisions are made by council in June.
Kevin Ramsay, Auckland Council’s acting Chief Finance Officer, says decisions on the budget – including how much we invest over the next decade and how we pay for it – will affect all Aucklanders, so having a say is important.
“Aucklanders want this city to keep moving forward and to build on progress over recent years. We also know people want us to keep their rates and other charges as low as possible. So council is working to deliver a budget that gets this balance right.
“The important thing is that Aucklanders tell us what they think – on this and other important issues,” says Mr Ramsay.
The ways people can give feedback, include:
• online at shapeauckland.co.nz, or through social media
• on a form which will be posted to all households along with a summary document
• at one of 30 ‘have your say’ events are being held across the region
The budget covers key issues including how much we invest in Auckland, which in turn means how much rates we need to collect, how we split rates among ratepayers, council’s roles in housing and development and what we should do about fixing transport and the funding options to pay for it.
A consultation document that outlines these issues along with detailed information on other proposals and changes included in the budget can be found at http://www.shapeauckland.co.nz/
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