I fully agree with Cr Sturt (Letters, January 22) that some council debt is good, to cover core services, for example roading, sewerage and water. An analogy can be those getting on to the property ladder but needing a mortgage to do so. A house is an asset that will accrue in value. A rental property is also an asset that will accrue in value, with the income, being market rent, covering the mortgage and maintenance of that asset. However, most home owners dealing with a large mortgage don't extend it to cover a grand world tour or other grandiose expenses but rather save for those.
Unfortunately, in my view council doesn't see debt that way, happy to extend it to cover projects that would be nice in another financial climate, but at this time should be postponed, rather like that world trip that would be nice but must be shelved for a few years until the debt is more manageable.
Whilst skate parks, bike tracks and sculptures are a great idea, they are a luxury, not essential, and should come under the "shelved" category at this time especially as we need a new sewerage scheme operational by the end of 2019 and our museum needs millions spent on it to be usable.
PADDI HODGKISS
Rotorua
Long term debt