Abstaining is not leading

Communities and Residents (C+R) Albert/Eden/Roskill are seriously concerned about the hefty rates increases proposed in the Long Term Plan (LTP) and calls on all Councillors to vote against it.

This Thursday, subject to a final audit opinion, the Councillors will vote on Mayor Len Brown’s new 10-year LTP with its $60 billion budget.

Although the proposed general rates increase is 3.5%, it actually takes the average household rates increase to 9.9 per cent, with almost half of the households of Albert/ Eden/Roskill being hit by increases over 10% or more.

Puketapapa Local Board member Nigel Turnbull says ‘Our families, those on fixed incomes, and the vulnerable in our communities, all suffer by these high rates increases.

‘They are simply unfair and inequitable and failing to vote against them, or worse yet, abstaining from voting, is a clear failure to show civic leadership for those elected for that purpose.

The C+R Local Board Members on the Albert Eden and Puketapapa Local Boards, have consistently supported our Governing Body member, Christine Fletcher to vote against the 3.5% general rates increase, whilst supporting some form of Transport Levy.

We believe Council is indulging in funding social programmes that are the responsibility of central government at the expense of core council business.

We note that the targeted transport levy will be used to ensure roading renewals are undertaken, transport infrastructure is set up to support the government’s strategic housing programme and public transport upgrades are completed including park and rides, which have aligned to the public’s view of addressing Auckland’s transport needs going forward.

The General Rates increase is where there is, what we consider, profligate spending and we need to push back against this, and to that end we support Christine in voting against the Long Term Plan. We want Auckland to be a truly liveable city”.

ENDS

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