Letters: Ratepayer to be charged more and receive less

Deputy mayor Larry Balldock (left) and mayor Tenby Powell. Photo / File

Tauranga City Council is currently debating the many options and plans for the future and the amount of the rates increase for the next few years. Anyway, it looks as if the ratepayer is again to be charged more and receive less. Growing a city costs more than the rate take of the new areas and the existing ratepayers must subsidise this development. A suggestion is a period of consolidation and catch up - no more growth for five years. At some point getting bigger becomes too big.

Tauranga City Council is voting soon on controlling the domestic kerbside rubbish, recycling and food scraps collections. This could cost each household about $500 per annum additional to their rating bill.

The public debate for this is quiet. The Papamoa Residents and Ratepayers Association has analysed this idea and firmly believes Tauranga has a competitive rubbish collection industry which keeps the costs low and the residents only pay for what they use. It does not believe residents who have minimum waste, take their recyclables to the transfer station should subsidise those who are wasteful. We welcome the public debate.

(Abridged)
Philip Brown
Papamoa Residents & Ratepayers Association

How much was spent on legal opinions?

I note that The Bay of Plenty Times has reported that the Tauranga City Council spent $100,000 on legal opinions on the begging/rough sleeping ban and the rights of those affected under the Human Rights Act.

How much was spent on legal opinions of the rights of the pedestrians, shoppers, retailers and landlords under the Human Rights Act?

And if not, why not?

A Gifford
Tauranga

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