Mayoral candidate Councillor Rob McCann congratulates the Kāpiti Coast District Council on a solid pre-election report but has concerns.

“The report correctly identifies some of the success stories and some of the challenges facing KCDC, says Mayoral candidate Rob McCann, “however it doesn’t highlight the huge cost increases that we will see in our upcoming capital expenditure projects.”

The most recent project to exceed the budget was the Gateway with a 116% increase in costs, which is more than double, prompting Councillor McCann to introduce a motion to revaluate the project.

“It is this kind of information that potential candidates need to see, to understand just how much pressure council budgets will be under as costs continue to climb and income remains static.

“It’s clear that ever increasing rates are unacceptable to the public, which is why we need to pressure the Future for Local Government Review to accept that the funding mechanisms for councils are broken and need radical reform.

“Pre-election Reports often try look at the world through rose tinted glasses. Nowhere is the need for change that drove councillors to initiate the Martin Jenkins Report highlighted. Nowhere is there an acknowledgement that council’s own processes may have led to the closure of the Waikanae Library.

“While we often need some sugar to help swallow medicine, too much of the sweet stuff and readers cease to believe what council says Councillor McCann.

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