Media statement Thursday, July23, 2003

North Shore councillors 'hypocritical'

North Shore councillors' pronouncements last night (22/7/03) were totally hypocritical, the Employers & Manufacturers Association (Northern) says.

"North Shore councillors are supporting the revolt against the ARC's rate increases because they know full well they are responsible for a large part of them," said Alasdair Thompson, EMA's chief executive.

"North Shore council is trying to divert attention away from its unprincipled rates policy requiring businesses to pay over 9 times more than residential property owners.

"North Shore Council's rating system is largely the cause of most of the anomalies being experienced, not the ARC rates increases.

"ARC's rates are based on capital value, which in fact was effectively the only option available, and without a business differential which in no circumstances could be justified.

"When the capital value system was applied to the distorted and unethical rating base of North Shore City, the rebalancing that occurred for some rate payers brought to light some glaring anomalies in North Shore's own rating policy.

"North Shore's rating policy has also driven business away from the Shore and added to the region's traffic congestion problems.

"The ARC is putting up its rates to address the very transport problems that the North Shore council has for years helped make worse."

ENDS

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