More than 1,000 ratepayers/local citizens have called for a cap on annual rates of 3 percent (3%).
In their petition they asked for a thorough review of South Wairarapa District Council’s operations.
The group pointed to expanding council staffing numbers _ both fulltime and casual _ as well as suggesting part of council spending increases reflected poor quality contract tendering and control by its officials.
The group also called for a line-by-line review of council operations and activity _ a budget process they suspect has never been properly – or fully and systematically – implemented in previous budget rounds.
By adopting a 3 percent rates cap, the petitioners believe a whole new financial discipline will be imposed on council officials – and elected councillors. This discipline will slow the flood of rates hikes which has seen ratepayers paying FOUR times the rate of inflation to cover council costs to the community over the past five years.
As the group, “swfuturefocus,”said in a newspaper advertisement in mid-December:
“This year (2024-25), the average ratepayer is paying the council 106% more than they did in 2018-19 – that’s an increase four times higher than New Zealand-wide inflation over the same period.”
Instead, it noted: “we need an efficient, focused council which can deliver South Wairarapa people the best value for money when providing local services and addressing our major infrastructure needs.
In the hunt for some of that efficiency, let’s ask about some of what the district wants and needs – including essential services – from SWDC.
Find a Martinborough Star Paper to fill in.
How to respond: Email your reply to: themartinboroughstar@gmail.comOR:
Snail mail (soon) to: Quiz, The Martinborough Star P.O. Box 12, Martinborough.
