Councillors have the numbers and the power to defeat Auckland Mayor on the rates issue.

It has taken Mayor Len Brown almost five years to find a funding solution for the Central Rail Link.

That solution is to increase rates.

Despite trips to China to seek a public-private partnership deal, endless visits to Wellington to seek Government approval for fuel tax and road tolls, and two ‘Consensus Building Groups’ the Mayor’s final solution was to raise rates by an average 9.5%

And he did this at the very last stage of setting the budget.

He introduced a Transport Levy – essentially a targeted rate on every rateable property in Auckland – without genuine consultation with ratepayers.

This levy is to pay for transport projects which had not been funded because of the Mayor’s decision to start the Central Rail Link early and before agreed Government funding was is place.

A possible targeted rate was hidden away in background budget papers with a suggested one-off tax of $58 for next year only.

But the final budget proposed by the Mayor demands an ‘interim’ annual flat rate of $114 for the next three years.

At the final Budget meeting in May seven councillors voted against this new levy.

Less than a week later six councillors (including four who had voted for the levy) wrote to the Mayor expressing concern at the effect the levy would have on the total proposed rates increases in the budget.

This group told the Mayor the levy needed to be revisited before the budget was finalised on 25th June.

The Mayor’s reported response was that the budget was done and dusted and there would be no review.

Now is the time for councillors to show their strength and use the tools available to overrule the Mayor.

The four councillors who are calling for a review should join with the seven councillors who voted against the budget to make a majority of 11 -10 against the Mayor.

A simple Notice of Motion by these 11 councillors could remove the Transport Levy from the budget and have the effect of reducing the projected 9.5% average rates increase down to between 5% and 6% average.

Councillors have the power, and the numbers, to defeat the Mayor and get the rates bill down to a level which is not going to drive people out of their homes.

ENDS

© Scoop Media