Responding to reports of New Plymouth District Council’s $1.6 million rates surplus, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says:

“A rates surplus means the Council has taken more from the people of New Plymouth than it needs. It shouldn’t use this surplus on unbudgeted ‘nice-to-have’ initiatives. If the economic development projects were so important, the Council would have budgeted for them.”

“This is classic ‘we know how to spend your money better than you do’ arrogance from a local council.”

“The money should be returned to those who paid it: either taken off the next rates bill, or used to pay down debt for future ratepayers.”

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