Responding to reports of New Plymouth District
Council’s $1.6 million rates surplus, New Zealand
Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke
says:
“A rates surplus means the Council
has taken more from the people of New Plymouth than it
needs. It shouldn’t use this surplus on unbudgeted
‘nice-to-have’ initiatives. If the economic development
projects were so important, the Council would have budgeted
for them.”
“This is classic ‘we know how to
spend your money better than you do’ arrogance from a
local council.”
“The money should be returned to
those who paid it: either taken off the next rates bill, or
used to pay down debt for future
ratepayers.”
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