Letters to the editor: Council pay increases unacceptable

A reader says council pay rises are unacceptable when some of its staff are losing their jobs. Photo / NZME

When, during lockdown in 2020, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a salary cut
for herself and other MPs, a number of mayors, councillors and some council executives throughout New Zealand followed suit.

Rotorua Lakes Council chief executive Geoff Williams, however, when asked if he would do likewise, dismissed the idea as "immoral".

Recent decisions, involving some Rotorua council employees losing jobs and others receiving huge pay increases, are in my opinion unacceptable in these fraught times.

One wonders why our rates are to rise by 9 per cent. Roll on the 2022 local body elections.

Jackie Evans
Pukehangi

Is councillor out of touch?

It was with a hearty chuckle that I read Rotorua Lakes councillor Peter Bentley's June 16 letter to the editor, complaining he was not told that speed bumps on Kawaha Point were going to be installed.

This is despite a council press release being issued on February 24 advising the public that speed bumps would be installed, and despite the construction period going on for the past fortnight.

My opinion: Is the councillor really admitting that he is so far out of touch with the community that he didn't hear it was happening, nor did he think to read news about the council? It also seems to me very unlikely that elected members aren't given copies of press releases going out from the council.

No one likes speed bumps, but due to the idiotic actions of the few who speed down residential streets, they are required for the safety of us all.

Ryan Gray
Fairy Springs

Wake up

How can changing our Rotorua Lakes Council managers' titles to deputy chief executives and giving two a pay rise enhance services to ratepayers? (News, June 15 and 17).

In my view, if the former managers are not already giving us expected outcomes, they should not be holding the positions they have.

Wake up, Rotorua Lakes Council.

Jo- Anne La Grouw
Rotorua

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