Tikokino ratepayers are angry at a proposed rate increase for the coming year, and vented their frustration at a public meeting held at the community hall this week.
About 50 people gathered on Wednesday night to question council representatives about a 16.7 per cent rate hike proposed in the Long Term Plan, part of which was to help fund the district's wastewater and drinking water, regardless of whether people were connected to the network or not.
The proposed district rate equated to an additional charge of $49 for every ratepayer (both rural and urban) for the 2018/19 year, which the council said would strike the right balance between the benefits for those connected to the water networks and the community benefits from infrastructure that would be durable, environmentally sound and cater for future growth in the district.
This did not wash with the Tikokino residents, however.
"I have my own water, my own septic tank - if something goes wrong with them I have to pay for it myself - I know we have to pay rates but to see a 16.7 per cent increase - what's going on?" asked resident Kirsty Beagle.