Media release

Auckland Councillors Chris Fletcher and Cameron Brewer

Thursday, 24 May 2012

42,000 ratepayers now set to pay at least 20% more in rates

Auckland Mayor Len Brown’s low $350 Uniform Annual General Charge will mean nearly 6,000 more ratepayers can expect rate increases greater than 20% taking the number of those unfortunate households to 42,168.

An amendment by Auckland councillors George Wood and Cameron Brewer to lift the UAGC to $450 per dwelling was lost by 17 to 6 votes during the Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan debates yesterday. The six councillors to support a higher UAGC were Wood, Brewer, Fletcher, Calum Penrose, Dick Quax, and Sharon Stewart.

“This is very disappointing. A slightly higher UAGC would’ve have softened the blow for many households, particularly those facing the highest increases over the next three years, albeit capped at 10% per annum. Sadly a lot of people will simply be rated out of their homes,” says Chris Fletcher, leader of Citizens and Ratepayers.

“The Mayor claims $350 is the fairest UAGC but council officials continue to disagree. Back in October last year, it was reported that ‘a UAGC of $450 will result in the least overall change in rates over all incomes.’ While yesterday’s report to the Strategy and Finance committee stated ‘a $450 UAGC results in the least number of ratepayers facing increases larger than 20%.’ Alarmingly, the Mayor blankly refused to accept these non-partisan and official observations,” says Cameron Brewer.

“The Mayor’s trying to sell his low UAGC as the fairest option, but he’s playing pure politics. He’s refusing to help those ratepayers facing the greatest pain. Rather he’s pandering to his own voters,” says Mr Brewer.

The Mayor’s average rates increase of 3.6% got through despite eight centre-right councillors putting up an alternative budget to reduce the increase to 2.6%.

“Eight of us put up a really strong fight for the many ratepayers who have voiced their deep concern for the Mayor’s $58 billion budget and all its untimely and unaffordable projects. We will continue to demand better quality public spending,” says Mrs Fletcher.

Ends

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