Advice sought on Hamilton council's ability to vote on rates proposal

Hamilton city councillor Siggi Henry is facing a whopping 59 per cent rates increase on her Temple View property. Photo / Supplied

The majority of Hamilton city councillors will see their rates bill go up under the proposed rates changes in the draft 10-year-plan, according to property data.

The Herald reported on Monday that Hamilton Mayor Andrew King could save an estimated 14 per cent or see about $22,000 sliced off his rates bill for his 30 plus properties in 2018/19.

But some city councillors aren't as lucky with a property search showing west ward councillor Siggi Henry is looking at a whopping 59 per cent increase or $1271 more to pay in rates for her Temple View home.

The councillors' properties were identified through a property search based on the register of elected members interests and the rating changes were worked out through the council's online rates calculator.

The council's preferred option in the long term plan is to increase rates, move to a capital value rating faster and introduce a $500 uniform annual general charge. Under the council's proposal there will be an average rates increase of 9.5 per cent for the next two years and 3.8 per cent for the following eight.

Henry said while she knew the increase would come as a shock to some, she was ok with it because they were being categorised in the new rural residential category, which bought her rates bill to a similar level to the rest of the city.

"When we got the letter we actually laughed because we thought it was so funny... we have had the luxury of paying a small amount of rates so I don't mind because it has been good for us."

In the east ward Rob Pascoe will see his rates rise by 11.3 per cent in the first year, Mark Bunting's are up 11.2 per cent, Paula Southgate's up 3.9 per cent and James Casson's up 2.7 per cent.

West ward councillor Leo Tooman is facing a 13.4 per cent increase, while Angela O'Leary's rates bill rises by $11 to just 0.45 per cent.

Deputy mayor Martin Gallagher will see the biggest reduction in rates of his fellow councillors for the two properties he has interests in, with a 5.3 per cent drop, shaving $286.05 off his rates bill.

Gallagher said it was "swings and roundabouts" for him as one of the properties he owned was dropping 17 per cent, but the other was facing a 47.5 per cent increase.

Councillor Garry Mallett's rates bill for his Chartwell property will also drop 3.9 per cent.

Only nine of the 12 councillors live in the city boundaries with west ward councillors Geoff Taylor and Dave Macpherson and newly elected east ward councillor Ryan Hamilton all living on the outskirts of the city.

However, Taylor confirmed he and his wife were in the early stages of selling their Rukuhia house and moving back to Hamilton's west ward.

Andrew King did not return requests for comment from the Herald on Monday, but Hamilton City Council chief executive Richard Briggs said he expected to have another conversation with the mayor on Tuesday about whether he perceived there was a conflict and would seek advice from the Office of the Auditor General given the large number of properties he owned.

Gallagher asked Briggs on Monday to get advice from the city solicitor or Auditor General about appropriateness of each councillor voting on the rating proposal after learning about how many properties the mayor owned in the city.

"I've personally requested the chief executive run the rule across everyone. Without personalising it to anyone I would expect to receive advice about is there any elected member who should exclude themselves."

Briggs confirmed the city solicitor would be reminding councillors of their obligations around conflicts and their responsibilities within the next few weeks.