by Geoffrey Churchman
That was one of two basic messages that Michael Papesch, an active committee member of Concerned Ratepayers Kapiti, gave to attendees at yesterday’s public meeting in Waikanae.
The other basic message is that Ratepayers are not a bottomless bank, even if that’s what KCDC staffers think they are.
Michael is now retired after 20 years of working in the Treasury and so is well aware of what sound financial principles are. In his view KCDC doesn’t adhere to sensible principles, and it’s no consolation that the Wellington City Council is even worse with nutty policies as well.
He has closely scrutinised KCDC’s published statements and accounts, and one of the most alarming aspects of them is how much KCDC staff costs have increased in just 2 years: the number of Full-time-equivalent employees at KCDC has gone up 15% in that time and the average salary per employee has gone up an astounding 18%. Why does this happen when the services that the council provides have not increased? A simple explanation is some people are lazy and to get work done some additional staffers get taken on. But that’s not all of it.
Grants paid out to groups have gone up 150% in 2 years, and we’re not talking about the people who come along and ask for $500 from the local community board so little Johnny can go to a sporting contest somewhere. The total paid out has gone from $800,000 to $2.000.000 — who to and for what?
And we all know about vastly excessive amounts paid out to consultants for half-baked reports, the Coastal Advisory Panel, the Takutai Kapiti project and parasitic expensive lawyers among others.
On capital expenditure, everyone knows about the $10 million bus shelters at Paraparaumu, the $2 million cyclist clip-on for the Waikanae bridge, and lots of lengthy temporary orange Cone-henges around the district.
The KCDC has officially stated that the previous principle that Rates should not exceed 5% of household income isn’t enough for them, and it should be 7%, never mind that many people react, ‘for Stuffs sake, how am I going to afford 40% more in what I pay to council for it doing no-more than it has ever done?’ Kapiti can’t become a giant retirement village full of people who have to take out reverse mortgages to meet council imposts.
To her credit, one of the 6 Councilors who voted for this year’s 17.3% rates hike, Liz Koh, showed up to defend it, but not convincingly for the audience. Cr Martin Halliday, who voted against it was better received, but his belief that the central government should contribute more was poo-poo’d by Michael — central government is not going to want to contribute to councils who are addicted to spending.
The meeting attendees filled out forms which the committee will now collate, and the next steps will be taken early next year. One aspect will be submissions to the Annual Plan.
how do I get in touch with this group and onto their mailing list? I wasn’t aware of the meeting.
e-mail: ConcernedRatepayersKapiti@gmail.com and there is a Facebook webpage called Concerned Ratepayers Kapiti — no independent website yet.
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark
Yup, My rates have doubled in the last 10 years plus water and rubbish costs and the council votes not to have a rates increase cap. This means in the next 10 years my rates will be in the region of $12,0000 pa Plus water and rubbish.
This council shows no signs whatsoever that they intend to pull their belt in and make savings so they just just have to go.
It has been suggested that centra government, who make no effort to contain the councils, chip in to the rates pot. This may have some merit but only on the basis of say $1 for every $2 dollars of council savings
As suggested If we all send a copy of the meeting notes to 3 or 4 friends and they also send the notes on we should have the full 45000 souls on board to combat voter apathy this next time round.
Was it not Councillor Liz Koh who was quoted recently suggesting that if the old folks can’t afford their rates then they could take out reverse mortgages.