He led a rush of lobbying for scrapping a proposed 6.5% rates rise at the first day of hearings on the Dunedin City Council’s proposed 2020-21 annual plan yesterday.
‘‘These are unprecedented times — businesses are really hurting,’’ he said.
‘‘We are going to see significantly more — a rise in unemployment — but the pressure on the people and the business owners is quite considerable as they look for every single option they can as they try to keep their businesses open and people employed.’’
He said ‘‘the most significant downturn for the economy in some time’’ required the council to support an economic recovery plan.
To hit a 0% increase in the rates requirement the council should up its debt level, sell down non-core or non-strategic assets, including the Waipori fund, and review what was essential and the way it was delivering services.
‘‘Very quickly — within a month — we know that the world and all that is in it is quite a different place.
‘‘During that time we have seen businesses closed for at least four weeks for most, and probably longer for many.
‘‘We have seen people on reduced incomes, and significantly reduced incomes for others.
‘‘And we are seeing probably one of the largest growths for unemployment for our generation, and we will see that continue to go on,’’ he said.
Federated Farmers senior policy adviser David Cooper said for the council to review spending to allow for a 0% rates rise would ‘‘be a powerful signal to the community’’ that the council was aware of the issues many were going through.
Pulling back on increased levels of service, making greater use of debt, and other operational expenses — including natural attrition of staff should be considered — he said.
Grey Power Otago president Jo Millar asked for a deferral of the rates rise for 12 months.
‘‘We have a great fear that many of our people, rather than getting into debt, or asking for deferment of their rates etc, will sell their houses and start getting into rental accommodations, which may be beyond their means.’’
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Very pleased to see Dougal McGowan putting the pressure on council, they really do need to wake up to the situation.
Quoting Hawkins, "I don’t see the value in us going through a process where we significantly reconfigure what it is that we offer our community."
The value Mr Hawkins is in the fact we a facing a very different economy, your belligerent head in the sand mentality is not very helpful to the residents and businesses that you and your councillors act on behalf of.
Quoting the Local Government New Zealand president Dave Cull- ""I would say, in general, across the country, there’s not a lot of fat in the system. what are you going to cut out?"
The fact is Dave and Aaron, we have just witnessed a massive CV increase in property, arguably the largest single increase in Dunedins history. That alone adds significantly to the rates take. In addition, you're asking for another 6.5% increase ON TOP of the current CV increase. Which begs the question, why, all of a sudden, do we not have the ability to freeze the rates increases? I'll tell you why, you fulla's have messed up the city's financials in such a big way that you have no choice but to increase the rates.
Cr Vandervis has continually spoken out against the unprecedented council spending for years, and now we see the result of that spending. Nothing in the coffers and more borrowing in addition to rates increases. This and the previous council have acted irresponsibly, focussed on 'pet projects' and 'fantasy structures' at the expense of our roading, transport, power network, rubbish collection, drainage and wastewater. All of these basic services are operating below standard and most are in appalling state. I look forward to the next election, and I would like to think Dunedin voters will come out in force and exercise their voting powers. Hold a local body referendum allowing the ratepayers and residents to decide if the STV system is appropriate. This should NEVER have been a council decision to approve THEIR preferred system. Council need to understand that they are elected by a trusting community to serve the community and work with the community, NOT serve their own idealistic wants. We need to get back to basics and rebuild our community and economy from that solid base. ORC could do with a good clean out and a couple of CEO's are out of touch. It's a new world out there.
Bahahaha, zero percent rates rise from this egotistical, ideological and generally out of touch council?
Good luck with that one buddy.
I hope you can tighten the thumb screws on them, because we know they ignore the general ratepayers at every opportunity