Statement by David Thornton, Founder of NoMoreRates.

Auckland Council must cut expenditure on rail and drop transport levy.

Now that the Government has made it clear that it does not support Mayor Brown’s Transport Plan for Auckland he must drop the Transport Levy he wants to inflict on Auckland’s ratepayers.

He must also postpone all capital expenditure on the Central Rail Loop as both Transport Minister Bridges, and Prime Minister Key have said they will not support more Government funding by way of tolls, regional fuel tax or any other way.

Without Government financial support the $500 million planned spending on the CRL over the next 3 years will have to be paid out of ever-increasing rate rises.

There is still time for the Council to come together and review the recently passed budget (Long Term Plan) with its 9.5% ‘average’ rates increase.
The Council should defer any further work on the CRL except for two short tunnels from Britomart under the adjacent site – likely to cost less than $30 million.

Without the CRL cost the council can reallocate funds to projects which help reduce congestion.

This also means the possibly unlawful transport levy will not be needed.
It needs only 11 councillors to override the Mayor and his followers which means just three councillors have to change sides from where they voted on the budget last week.

Meanwhile the Auditor General, at my request, is reviewing the information, or lack of it, given to ratepayers before the introduction of the Transport Levy.
Evidence is now emerging which suggests the Mayor may have decided to introduce this new levy late last year and deliberately chose not to put that option out for public input.
ends

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