Mayor’s proposal a step in the right direction

The Mayor’s proposal for the final 10-year budget is a step in the right direction, says Auckland Councillor for Orakei Cameron Brewer.

“This is probably his best effort in the past five years in my very humble opinion. I encourage the public and business sector to now have a look at the Mayor’s latest direction-setting attempt and get their feedback to us councillors in the coming days.

“He’s certainly hugging more of the centre ground and has addressed some of the political and public concerns raised. As a centre-left mayor he’s effectively sending a clear and concise message - and that is ‘Back off, Phil Goff!’

“While a 2.5% average regional rates increase is better than the 3.5% let’s not forget many residents in higher valued properties will be up for much more, not helped by the Mayor’s determination to unfortunately stick to a low Uniform Annual General Charge.

“With this resetting of the base rate, we now need to satisfy ourselves that council core service levels will not suffer. Our communities want our parks, reserves, town centres and council facilities maintained to an acceptable level. Many councillors remain concerned as do local boards.

“If we’re wanting to save more money I would rather see a wage and salary freeze – from an enormous operational budget line that keeps climbing and has a huge impact on our rates requirements.

“I am pleased the Mayor’s proposed $99 transport targeted rate is a fixed amount and not based on property valuations. But I am concerned that the narrowing of the business differential target has now been stretched out to 2036/37.

“On asset optimisation, let’s make sure this work includes a full assessment of our strategic assets namely the port, airport and film studios. Let’s assess any possible proceeds for other future investments verses forecast annual dividends. It’s time to see the numbers and have the public debate. A public debate on possible strategic asset sell-downs needs to be part of the next 2018 LTP at the very latest. It’s long overdue.

“Rightly or wrongly the Mayor has nailed his colours to the mast when it comes to tolls. The challenge now is for the Mayor to convince the Government of any merits and soon to help ensure any transport targeted rate is in fact interim. It would be great for the Minister of Finance to acknowledge on 21 May Budget Day that the Government is at least meaningfully engaged with Auckland on progressing such funding issues.

“It would also be beneficial for ratepayers to be assured sooner rather than later that the City Rail Link is in fact a 50/50 project with the cost to be shared equally by council and government. At the moment it’s a 58/42 project with the Government so far only committing to funding the main works from 2020, not the entire works.”

Mr Brewer says the Mayor has engaged councillors well over recent weeks to digest the public feedback and take on and reflect suggestions.

“I’m pleased he’s considering taking up some of my ideas such as instead of cutting community library hours to save $1.1m, council will consider introducing a small charge for library users who order books that need couriering from another library. That could be a better way to plug any budget shortfall.

“Rest assured in the coming days and weeks I’ll also be pushing for more local investment in the heavily rated Orakei ward, including advancing a new Meadowbank Community Centre, a Selwyn Rail Station in Pourewa Valley, and delivering a better and safer Tamaki Drive,” says Mr Brewer.

ENDS

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