01 Sep 2004

Rates Rises Mean Less Bread On The Table

"Within 10 years, my Kapiti Coast rates will have risen by nearly $1,200 to a whopping total of nearly $2,900 a year, not including additional charges from the Wellington Regional Council," says Affordable Kapiti Candidate Greg Harford.

Mr Harford and his wife Anita visited the Kapiti Coast District Council today to pay the first instalment of a rates bill that has already risen from last year.

"Rates increases are bad for everyone. They are bad for families, bad for the elderly and others on fixed incomes, bad for business, and bad for beneficiaries. Every dollar that is taken off people by the Council is a dollar that people can't spend on their groceries, their children's education, or their recreational activities.

"Our rates rises this year have thankfully been only around $40 - about the same as 20 loaves of bread - but the real outrage is that the current Council is planning huge increases to pay for its so-called community plan over the next 10 years. The exact impact will vary from ratepayer to ratepayer, but it will be huge for everyone.

"The Kapiti community simply cannot afford the rates rises proposed in the community plan. I am standing for Council to review the plan, and to work towards introducing a rates freeze.

"Our incomes do not automatically go up every year, and it is outrageous that Council rates do".

Note: the first instalment of KCDC rates for this financial year is due to be paid by 6 September 2004.

ENDS

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