The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the comments from Finance Minister Grant Robertson, and National Party MP Gerry Brownlee, calling on councils across New Zealand to look at their books and see what is possible to reduce the rates burden on New Zealanders.
During the Epidemic Response Committee meeting this morning, Gerry Brownlee called on Mr Robertson to call on Mr Robertson to call for a rates freeze across central government. Mr Robertson replied that it was his expectation and belief that “every council will be having that discussion right now”.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Jordan Williams says, “Short of an emergency law requiring councils to freeze rates, the expectation could not be clearer. Councils across New Zealand need to freeze rates, look at their spending, and cut the nice-to-haves to ensure every cent is going to where it is most needed.”
The Taxpayers’ Union this morning launched a rates freeze dashboard, tracking every council on these matters. We are calling for each council to
(1) freeze rates increases; and
(2) set a percentage target of their total budget for council officials to find efficiencies and savings.
“For the past 20 years, councils have been hiking rates at twice the level of inflation. This year councils need to live within ratepayers’ means and find five percent efficiencies across the board – roughly the amount they’ve hiked rates and other charges every year over the last few decades.”
The campaign for a nationwide rates freeze is at www.ratesfreeze.nz. The dashboard tracking the council’s decisions is here
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is an independent and membership-driven activist group, dedicated to being the voice for Kiwi taxpayers in the corridors of power. Its mission, lower taxes, less waste, more transparency, is supported by 40,000 subscribed members and supporters.
The Taxpayers’ Union operates a 24-hour media line for comment on taxpayer issues. Representatives are available on (04) 282 0302.
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This is going to be an interesting and important conversation. I am quite surprised this article popped up on Waikanae Watch, given the editor and Waikanae Community Boards’ extremely active and insistent lobbying a few weeks ago for the major (Out of LTP ) extra expenditure to be the complete rebuilding of the Waikanae Library. …..with district wide rates impact.
There should be plenty of scope for reducing Operating Expenditure in a leaner more efficient organisation and in particular from reducing the $25 million+ spent a year on external consultants as a matter of routine. See the answers to an LGOIMA last September from Mark de Haast. The WCB wants a new library but that doesn’t necessarily mean a complete new building. A charrette for that issue has been established.