Downsizing will not solve the rates issue, readers say. Photo / File
Downsizing will not solve the rates issue, readers say. Photo / File
Re John Douglas (Letters, March 11).
First, capital gains are a paper figure only meaning little to the ratepayer until they sell their property, and, if they buy in the same market gains may well be negated to a large degree by these very same capital gains.
Downsizing can freeup some of that gain. However, if you are a pensioner or on a lower income you will need that extra money to maintain a modest or reasonable standard of living.
There's no argument from me that previous councils not wanting change or growth have left us with the infrastructure and financial problems faced now.
With respect to John Douglas' letter, most of us oldies came to retire in Tauranga because we liked the place.
Most of us are not in the least chasing the dollar and do not want to sell up.
Besides, we would still have to buy another home and the price would still be just as high anyway.
It might be a good idea to see who would like to pay more rates by poll and not have change forced on us like the recent compulsory glass collection system where we should have been given the choice.
If you feel so uptight about not having a museum go ahead and pay the extra yourself.
