Thumbs down to Gisborne District Council's rates rises

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The mayor’s reneged rates promise, a disconnected council and fiscal mismanagement were common themes expressed by 81 percent of respondents to the webpoll question about a planned hike in rates.

With rates rises signalled at 5 percent on average for the next three years, 2 percent average rate rises are on the way out.

“Are you comfortable with bigger rate rises in coming years to cover higher council spending requirements?” was this week’s Herald webpoll question.

Out of 601 respondents, 488 (81 percent) said no while only 14 percent were in favour of rates rises beyond the promised 2 percent average.

“What’s the point of a poll?” asked one person. “The mayor will do what he likes. He’ll raise the rates to pay for the ridiculously expensive new council chambers and no doubt the new signage, which goes up in secret.”

The mayor campaigned at the local government elections on a low average rates rise, said more than one respondent.

“He has failed in delivering this to the constituents who supported his re-election.”

The council needs to be demonstrably more efficient before it passes on its fiscal mismanagement excesses to the community, was a reiterated theme.

“It is high time the mayor and councillors started listening to their ratepayers, and not council staff or their inflated egos.”

An overstaffed council was an issue for others.

“Cut the deadwood at the council. That should keep need for rate increases down.”

One respondent cited the independent party that last year looked into the operation of local councils.

“Results fielded from the investigation highlighted that our local body was grossly overstaffed in comparison to other districts.”

Rate increases that exceeded inflation, this region’s low incomes and the council’s expenditure on “vanity projects” were also common themes.

'If Auckland city can manage a 2.5 percent increase, there is no reason why the GDC cannot do likewise.'“If Auckland city can manage a 2.5 percent increase, there is no reason why the GDC cannot do likewise.”

“We have some of the highest rates in the country, yet our council is in dire straights,” said one person. “But that’s OK because they have a pretty new building to sit in even if they exhausted all funds.”

Among the 14 percent (85 people) who were comfortable with the rates rises was the respondent who said “if we want all the things needed to be done we have to pay”.

“This is for our greater good and I know this $5 a week (approx) will be well spent. This is for our city, our homes,” said another.

Others were OK with the rates rises but conditionally.

“Provided the money is not spent on hundreds of new street signs with the new/old name on them, and on subsidising arts.”

“Yes, but only if the council spends our money on improving infrastructure and necessary maintenance and not vanity projects like flash council buildings.”

Five percent of people were undecided.