Tom Roud, Alliance Party candidate for the central ward for Christchurch City Council, says Mayor Phil Mauger’s misguided support for a mandated rates cap would result in costing more and delivering less for ratepayers.

Mr Roud says a rates cap would put Council’s books in worse shape, since the ability to levy rates gives the Council access to cheaper lending.

“A rates cap will result in all Council debt immediately being considered higher risk,” he says.

“A policy like this, imposed from central government on local councils, makes no fiscal sense.”

Mr Roud says under a rates cap, more money would go to pay the interest on debt, and less money go to roads, rubbish, footpaths, pools, parks, gardens, libraries, and everything that makes life better for ordinary people.

Mr Roud says he has a different plan that will deliver for working people in Christchurch.

“Public spending is popular when ordinary people can see how it makes their lives better. That’s the challenge for local government today.”

He says the people of Christchurch should be deciding our council’s priorities, not central Government.

“Lots of people are struggling with the cost of living, so we need to be careful about any rates rises, but offering false solutions like the so-called rates cap is cynical politicking,” he says.

Mr Roud is the first candidate the Alliance Party has stood in over a decade.

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