'Unfair' bill in spotlight, but refund still unlikely

Franklin residents burdened with a double-whammy rates bill for services in the Waikato and attractions in central Auckland could soon be in for some relief.

But it is not known if the long-suffering ratepayers will get a refund.

Up to 20,000 ratepayers living in the Environment Waikato region of the Franklin district have been stung by a levy for the Auckland War Memorial Museum and the Museum of Transport and Technology since the Local Government Rating Act was passed in 2002.

But Hunua MP Dr Paul Hutchison, who is sponsoring the Franklin District Council (Contribution to Funding of Museums) Amendment Bill, said the levy was a "long-standing inequity" under which Waikato residents were being unfairly charged for assets outside of their region.

The bill will have its first reading in Parliament today.

Dr Hutchison said Franklin was levied $755,000 for the Auckland Museum and $290,000 for Motat for the 2008/2009 year.

Of this, 28.7 per cent, or $299,920, came from Waikato ratepayers.

"I'm sure that all fair-minded Members of Parliament will support the legislation as such unfairness could happen anywhere in New Zealand."

Franklin mayor Mark Ball said his council was the only one in the country with a land mass that encompassed two regional authorities.

He said while there had been "some disgruntlement" from Waikato residents over the levy he was unsure whether they would be refunded.

"The reality is the law allowed it because it was flawed and, secondly, the money has already been spent on those two entities."

Dr Hutchison said approval of the bill would mean a slight increase for Franklin ratepayers living in the Auckland district.

But he said it was appropriate to support the bill, regardless of what might happen as a result of the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance and the Auckland Regional Amenities Bill.