An Oamaru motel is paying three times as much as its competitors in rates to the Waitaki District Council for services that Bella Vista Motels' Trevor Wilson says it does not use.
Mr Wilson faces a rates bill of almost $19,000 under the council's 2008-09 draft annual plan which proposes an overall rates rise of 6.4%.
Mr Wilson acknowledged that his motel was close to central Oamaru and fell within the central business district rating area, where businesses paid higher rates, but he believed charges had got all out of proportion, compared to other motels.
"I believe we are being unfairly treated and ask that I be on a level playing field with competitors," he said.
Mr Wilson said he paid a tourism charge of $1142, compared with $67 for other motels; $2754 for libraries ($184); $1266 for swimming pools ($83); $1544 for public toilets ($57); and $1783 for sports grounds-gardens-parks ($491).
He estimated he paid $11,067 for services his motel did not use, compared to $2017 for other motels.
