More support rates rise than oppose it

Councillor Sue Glen questioned the sense of getting public feedback when, in the end, the council chose to go ahead with the increase despite ratepayers' opposition. Photo / Michael Cunningham

More Whangarei ratepayers have supported a proposed 9 per cent average increase in rates than those who opposed it.

From the 113 public submissions on rates to the Whangarei District Council's Long Term Plan (LTP), 32 supported the proposed increase, 21 were against and eight thought there should not be any rise.

An average 9 per cent increase will equate to $128 extra per household. Whangarei currently has the second lowest residential rate in the country.

The council had not increased rates since 2006, during which time the council had sold off assets and gone into debt to balance its budget.

The issue was hotly debated at Thursday's extraordinary council meeting to discuss submissions to the LTP.

Councillors Sue Glen, Brian McLachlan, Tricia Cutforth and Stuart Bell were staunch critics of a rates rise and urged the council to try to provide the current level of service without a large increase.

Ms Glen questioned the sense of getting public feedback when, in the end, the council chose to go ahead with the increase despite ratepayers' opposition.

Mr McLachlan said to increase rates more than household income was unsustainable. "When council is borrowing money, that is equivalent to putting rates up," he said.

A recommendation from staff was for the LTP to commit to raising rates to maintain services, but Ms Cutforth said she would oppose such a move.

Greg Martin said in the past the council borrowed money or sold properties to raise funds when it should have raised rates incrementally.

Mayor Sheryl Mai said people had come to the council chambers asking for rates to be increased so services were maintained and for future generations to enjoy living and working in Whangarei.

She said councillors had every right to say they did not agree with the proposal but as a collective they had a duty to the public to provide for their needs.

John Williamson supported an increase, saying substantial funding had been poured into projects such as seawalls, sportsfields, cycleways, walkways and roundabouts.

Councillors Cherry Hermon, Shelley Deeming and Sharon Morgan also supported the increase. The LTP is likely to be adopted this month.