Guy Burns, a council candidate for the Paekakariki-Raumati ward, is advocating council use a low-cost form of non-binding referendum to assess ratepayer support for individual spending proposals.
"To help avoid unpopular and unnecessary decisions I'm suggesting council should identify the cost of specific proposals for ratepayers and then ask them whether they are willing to pay," his statement said.
"A polling form could go out with each rates bill, and be specific about the cost impacts of each spending proposal on each rates account.
"Administrative costs could be minimised by using online polling tools.
"It would enable ratepayers to be properly informed about proposals, and for councils to get a proper understanding of what people think as opposed to just interest groups lobbying on behalf of their pet projects.
