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MEDIA RELEASE 2nd-Nov-2011 |
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Statement by David Thornton
LABOUR EARTHQUAKE FUND PROPOSAL OUTRAGEOUS.
The proposal by the Labour Party that it would fund its Earthquake Fund from a charge on rateable value is totally outrageous as it compounds the effect on council ratepayers of a system which has been widely condemned as unfair.
Council rates are for local services and facilities – they were never intended to be used for funding a nationwide insurance fund for earthquakes.
Ratepayers are already facing substantial rates increases, particularly in Auckland and Dunedin.
In Auckland a total revaluation of all property is revealing the certainty of rates increases of 20% and higher for some ratepayers.
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MEDIA RELEASE 28th-October-2011 |
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Statement from David Thornton
Auckland Council rates increases plus re-valuations combine to threaten huge rate rises for many Auckland Ratepayers from next year.
Home-owners should object to new valuation.
Voters should demand legislation to curb rate increases.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown announces he wants next year’s rates increase to be no more than 3.5%.
In his election campaign Len Brown said ‘I am committed to keeping rates low. My background is to keep rate increases close to the rate of council inflation and I have delivered no increase in water rates.’
What he means is that the total amount of money the Council wants from all its ratepayers will be 3.5% more than the current year - if that meant each individual ratepayer would only have a 3.5% increase there would be few complaints.
However that is not the real situation.
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