Palmerston North schools face toilet tax

Palmerston North rincipals and boards of trustees are up in arms over a city council proposal to charge schools thousands of dollars more for toilets.

The proposed charges could see schools having to pay for each toilet or urinal. They now pay a flat fee of $80 a year, but a school with 1000 pupils, 80 teachers and 56 toilets or urinals could pay as much as $3800.

Palmerston North Boys' High principal Tim O'Connor said the council was "looking for another quick method of raising funds for their coffers".

The council said the new charges would transfer levies more evenly among wastewater users.