Ratepayers reject Mayors budget

At a meeting today Councillor Angela O’Leary questioned staff on flaws in the Council’s analysis report of public submissions to the budget.

“The ratepayers of Hamilton have overwhelmingly rejected the Mayor’s budget and they have done this by abstaining from answering your prescribed questions. That does not mean that you get to then interpret the abstinence of a no for a yes vote” she said.

In the report the biggest push against the rates rise came from a 41% majority. Those people made a conscious choice not to support any of the prescribed options for a rates increase of 9.5% or above and instead gave their views through the thousands of verbatim comments.

Councillor O’Leary said “Hundreds of submitters requested in their verbatim comments a lower rates rise and many wanted what was originally promised, 3.8%. Yet none of these options are included in the statistical data. Data that will now inform elected members decision making when we head into the 10 Year Plan deliberations ”.

“The same flawed logic has been applied to the support for or against specific projects” she said.

“I can tell you that from reading submissions one by one there is an overwhelming rejection against the Mayor’s Central City Park as an example, and yet the statistical data shows huge support for the project in the absence of ‘no’ votes”.

“Council is required by law to consult with its people in a manner and format that is appropriate to them. That manner and format must provide every opportunity for people to present their views, be it by email, letter, online or stone tablet. Council can’t then pick and choose from those views ones that best suit their needs” she said.

“Our people should be able to talk to us with the confidence that all their views will be considered and yet it appears this is not be the case”.

Elected members will determine the final outcome based on all the information provided to them.

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