28 May 2004

That is how the RatesRebellion campaign described today's decisions by the Auckland Regional Council to change its hated rates policies.

The ARC has voted to introduce a business differential of 1.5, and to introduce a new transport rating method which is intended to charge transport rates on the basis of services actually provided.

Precise details of the new transport rate have not yet been decided - but the indications so far are that most residential ratepayers will see a rate reduction this year.

RatesRebellion campaign spokesman said today, "It is a step in the right direction and therefore a significant victory for residential ratepayers.

"A differential of only 1.5 can only be described as modest - and goes nowhere near correcting the huge swing of the rates burden from business to residential ratepayers introduced by the ARC last year.

"But, modest though this change is, the RatesRebellion campaign has, overall, achieved a great deal on behalf of its ten of thousands supporting ratepayers - not least a general acknowledgment that the Rebellion was the major factor in influencing the government's funding package last December.

"We will continue to fight for more meaningful business differentials, and will also be continuing our fight to achieve a just resolution for all those ratepayers who have been penalised for withholding all or part of their rates last year".

ENDS

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