Local authorities raise rates income by 8.3% in Sept quarter from year ago vs CPI inflation of 1.5%. Your view? | interest.co.nz

I touched on this within a recent article with respect to the Christchurch City Council - Christchurch: A Bureaucratically Buggered City | Scoop News. The Christchurch City Council fiasco following the 4 September earthquake is being discussed today - Mayor's media presence criticised | Stuff.co.nz

As the Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Surveys illustrate, if housing exceeds three times incomes, it is clear evidence local authorities have lost control of costs and the ability to meet the infrastructure responsibilities to their communities. The British have the same problem (Daily Mail: British local government rorting the system) but the new British Coalition Government is getting on and tackling these issues.

It is clear a performance culture needs to be instilled in to local government with urgency. I touched on this with respect to housing and associated issues near some three years ago - Getting performance urban planning in place.

Everyone else in the community is expected to “perform” – why not Local Government as well?

Express your views on the interest co nz website.

ENDS

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