ARC rate rises

RatesRebellion Formerly known as the Regional Ratepayers Rebellion campaign. The campaign fighting the Auckland Regional Council's rating polices and rates increases.

Statement from David Thornton

LOW ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS IS A REFELECTION OF BEING IGNORED LAST YEAR.

ARC RATES - ONLY 3.2% THIS YEAR - BUT A FURTHER 13.2 % RATE RISE IN 15 MONTHS TIME.

Auckland Regional Council chair Gwen Bull is bemoaning low attendance at public meetings called by the ARC to hear abour next year's rates.

This low attendance is clearly a reflection on the same process last year when hundereds of submissions from ratepayers calling for a fair rates policy were totally ingnored.

The result of that was the Ratepayers Rebellion which saw more than 100,000 ratepayers withholding all or part of their rates.

How many are still in that position is unknown as the ARC is now demanding $5,000 before it will supply us with this information.

Ratepayers need to be aware that although the ARC is proposing only a 3.2% increase for the next financial year starting on July 1st , it is also planning a further 13.2% increase for the following year - just under 15 months away.

We urge ratepayers to attend any meetings in their area on the ARC rates issue and make submissions calling for a change to the rating system.

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