Goff’s commitment to higher rates is a betrayal

4 MARCH 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phil Goff’s decision to campaign for Auckland Mayor on 3.5 percent general rates increases ignores his woeful record on cutting waste and imposing targeted rates, says the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance.

Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesperson Jo Holmes says “When Phil Goff last ran for Mayor, he campaigned on cutting waste at Auckland Council by an amount equivalent to between 3 and 6 percent of total Council spending. His effort to cut that waste was an abysmal failure – as of last year he had delivered just 0.3 percent of Council spending in waste cuts. Mr Goff wouldn't need to campaign on higher rates growth if he simply met his last campaign promise.”

“Mr Goff should also dispense with the lie that rates hikes were maintained at 2.5 percent per annum. A combination of targeted rates and the Auckland fuel tax meant that ratepayers’ real financial burden increased by 6.2 percent. Applying a never-ending stream of additional targeted rates might allow Mr Goff’s spin-doctors to sell the idea that the Mayor put a cap on rates, but it offers no relief to the eternally suffering ratepayer.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media