KEY POINTS:
Three of Auckland's city councils complain the Regional Amenities Bill is flawed, unfair and will be unpopular with ratepayers.
They challenge the way the bill seeks a compulsory levy on ratepayers for arts, culture, rescue services and the zoo that will push up rates by up to 2
per cent.
When public submissions on the bill closed on Friday, Manukau, North Shore and Waitakere cities had filed sharp criticisms on many aspects.
A major worry is the prospect of the Auckland councils' total support for 11 organisations in voluntary grants rising from $5 million to $13 million a year under a compulsory levy regime.
"Manukau's concern is that it has not been thought through," said Mayor Len Brown. "It has a significant impact on our rates and a levelling is required - for example, it does not recognise costs to the city of providing free swimming pools used by residents from outside the city boundary."
Waitakere Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse said not enough thought had been given to which amenities should be regionally funded and how to create a fair charging system.
"Other councils in the region support regional amenities. Waitakere has the Trusts Stadium, the biggest indoor playing surface in New Zealand, and WestWave, still the finest competition pool in the country. We maintain the west coast beaches and we are developing the Corban estate Arts Centre plus our own symphony orchestra."
Ms Hulse said regional charging was a good idea but the bill needed a lot of work before it was acceptable.
North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams has said residents will not stand for a 2 per cent rates rise.
His council is concerned that the bill's proposal of an amenities funding board that is not elected by the public avoids accountability to the public.
Like other councils, it prefers the Auckland Regional Council to take responsibility for picking which amenities are regional, deciding how much the amenities get and recovering the cost in ARC rates demands.
A survey commissioned by the North Shore City Council showed half of respondents agreed all councils should spend ratepayers' money on regional amenities, particularly those amenities deemed to benefit most Aucklanders, such as surf lifesaving, Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, coastguard and the zoo.
However, the council doubts the survey accurately reflects the views of the range of citizens.
Rodney Mayor Penny Webster said she was concerned the bill compelled ratepayers to fund activities without leaving it up to individual ratepayers to choose. It was questionable how the Auckland Festival was on the list when Pasifika Festival was not.
The bill offers a mechanism by which all councils make appropriate contributions - based on a council's level of rating revenue - instead of the present voluntary basis which results in varying levels of support.
GROUPS SET TO BENEFIT
The list for regional funding:
* Auckland Zoo.
* Auckland Observatory and Planetarium.
* Auckland Regional Rescue Helicopter Trust.
* Auckland Theatre Company.
* Coastguard Northern Region.
* National Maritime Museum.
* NZ Opera.
* Surf Life Saving Northern Region.
* Auckland Festival.
* WaterSafe Auckland.
* Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.
