30 May 2004

Kapiti Residents Say No To Massive Rates Increases

"Kapiti residents might want the District Council to sort out water and roading, but they don't want to pay the 70 per cent rates hike over the next 10 years that is proposed as part of the 'Choosing Futures' community plan."

That's the view of Greg Harford, an outraged Paraparaumu resident who coordinated a petition calling for a zero rates rise and reductions in Council debt levels.

"I collected 31 signatures in the space of two hours," he said. "Most people didn't know about what was going on, and certainly weren't happy about it. There is a clear message for the Council that it needs to sort itself out, focus on its core business and, most importantly, work to keep both rates and Council debt no higher than than they are at present.

"The draft community plan involves an increase in rates of over 70 per cent over the next ten years, combined with a two and a half-fold increase in Council debt. It is fundamentally unsustainable, and people don't want to pay more.

"The reality is that elderly people on fixed incomes and families with children don't have bottomless pockets, and can't afford to pay massive increases in rates. The Council should listen to this message and scale-back its spending schemes.

"I look forward to appearing before the Council to present this submission", said Mr Harford.

ENDS

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