Sculptures will keep ratepayers suffering

22 SEPTEMBER 2015

Responding to the report that Christchurch City Council and CERA are together contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars in ratepayers’ and taxpayers’ money for two cast-iron sculptures, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman, Ben Craven, says:

“Councils have a role in providing public artworks. But we have to seriously question the Council’s priorities when they are spending half a million dollars on a nice-to-have, while so many things that are needed are currently unfunded.”

“CERA’s refusal to disclose how much taxpayers’ money they are contributing to these pieces of artwork makes a mockery of transparency.”

“In other communities you actually fundraise for this sort of thing. The Wellington Sculpture Trust relies upon the donations of members of the public to support art in their community. Christchurch City Council should consider having a similar arrangement.”

“With rates having increased in Christchurch by 8 percent, and almost 15,000 people behind on their rates payments, the last thing the Council needs to be spending ratepayers’ money on are nice-to-have sculptures.”

ENDS

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