ARC rates for new financial year
25 May 2004
Ratepayers protest letters must be considered during this year's rate setting process.
Rates Rebellion spokesman David Thornton today urged the Auckland Regional Council to include a business differential into the rates system for the coming financial year.
David Thornton was speaking to his submission to the ARC's Long Term Council Community Plan [LTCCP] which will fix the rates for the year commencing 1st July/
Mr Thornton told the council "In your deliberations on this plan in respect of rating issues - especially the revenue policy - I urge you to give every consideration to the thousands of letter, emails and faxes you received during the ratepayers rebellion.
I also ask you to give consideration to the two petitions handed to you last September which contained 40,000 signatures.
And I believe you must also take into consideration the actions by tens of thousands of ratepayers who withheld all or part of their rates - including those who continue to do so.
Your own surveys and research have told you that residential ratepayers want the return of business differentials and a clear recognition of 'ability to pay' when it comes to setting rates for the new year".
ENDS