Final Chance to Have Your Say

HAVE YOUR SAY on Auckland’s future by completing feedback on The 10-Year Budget and Auckland Plan 2050 online, by 8pm THIS WEDNESDAY 28 March.

The Remuera Residents Association draws your attention to these key points when considering your feedback response.

The points were established in discussion at the recent Public Meeting of the Remuera Residents Association held on Thursday 22^nd March.

The points are addressed in the sequence of the on-line response form:

Question 1 – Regional Fuel Tax

1. Is this an equitable way of getting money for transport needs? It’s a regressive tax (i) for people who are at a distance from where they work will have higher transport costs, and (ii) many people have no viable public transport options available and may not for many years – if ever.
2. Is there a measurable outcome for the use of the money raised? – No. There is a lack of accountability and it will add to the cost of living in Auckland

Question 2 – Targeted Water Tax

1. Recognised that something needs to be done about the problem but a targeted tax based on property value (CV) is unfair. Should be a uniform charge as everyone will benefit from the harbours, beaches and streams not being polluted. There is a shallowness in the reasoning given by Council.
2. Tax should be based on amount of land and ability to pollute not the value of the land. What is proposed is not equitable or fair.
3. User pay is the norm, this tax is just easy for Council to implement – sloppy, lazy and unfair!

Question 3 Targeted Tax to invest more in Protecting the Environment

1. Everyone agreed that Auckland’s growth is putting pressure on the environment and something needs to be done.
2. We need to protect our Kauri Trees but not enough is known about the disease and can we actually stop it?
3. This targeted rate is once again to be based on property value (CV) which is unfair – there is an assumption that a high property value (CV) equates to ability to pay.

Question 4 Rates Increases

1. The Mayor needs to explain the policy changes he is proposing. We felt that what has been published is not transparent because of the impact of changing valuations prior to the next rates calculation.
2. There needs to be more effort and accountability in improving efficiency within existing Council operations.
3. The inference is that without this level of rate increase the Council will have to reduce existing service levels to such things as Libraries, Art Galleries etc. This is a threat and plays on the emotional connection that people have with these services.

Question 5 Accommodation Providers Tax

1. This will be an administrative nightmare – more employees needed to police this. If Queenstown Southern Lakes has 3 people employed to do this how many will Auckland need?
2. Owner is still paying rates whether tourists or friends and family are staying, so what is the problem?
3. Leave it to Inland Revenue to address through income tax returns.
4. Why is Waiheke in Zone B and therefore at a lower rate when it is one of the most popular places for people doing a short term let?

General comments were made by several people that the Council will need to employ a lot more people to implement the new taxes proposed.

Auckland will not be a liveable city as people will be unable to afford to live here.

It would appear that the Council is using targeted taxes so that they can keep to the impossible promise of keeping rate increases at 2.5%. As evidence of this, after two years the annual increase rises to 3.5% and continues unchanged for the next eight years!!