Rates may be hot topic at FF meeting

Mike Lord
Mike Lord
Federated Farmers Otago provincial president Mike Lord just wants to see a fair rating system.

Rates was an important - and frustrating - topic given the increasing size of rates bills for farmers, he said.

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide has been invited to be the keynote speaker at Federated Farmers Otago's annual meeting in Dunedin tomorrow.

He will discuss what local government reform will deliver for farmers.

Council funding policies were too reliant on property value and not reliant enough on the benefit each ratepayer received from council services, meaning farmers got "hammered", Mr Lord said.

The whole rating system needed an overhaul and there were "tools in the box" to do it.

"I want fairness," Mr Lord said.

The Taieri dairy farmer said he will pay nearly 15 times that of the average residential ratepayer in Dunedin for the Forsyth Barr stadium.

"Personally, I think the stadium will be great to watch some rugby in, but it's a financial liability we're going to be paying off for years to come.

"Now our council has made the commitment, we may as well get behind it. I just object to paying so many times more than other residents for the pleasure of seeing it built.

"If I was a bit cheeky, I'd ask which seats are mine. I feel like I pay for my season tickets every year when I pay my rates bill," he said.

The issues around local government funding were bigger than just the stadium. He would be paying thousands of dollars this year alone for Dunedin's libraries and museums, he said.

He believed those who used "people services" should be targeted.

Mr Lord, who was elected president in 2009, was prepared to serve another term at the helm of the province. He enjoyed the opportunity to represent the farming community.

Highlights during his tenure included the introduction by Federated Farmers of Farm Day - a new concept that was helping to break down the urban-rural divide - and the response by the rural community to the Christchurch earthquake.

Dunedin Venues Ltd chief executive David Davies will also speak at the annual meeting.

 

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