Council is pushing up both rates and debt, meaning ratepayers will face another big hike in the next three years unless there is a change in direction. We need to teach the council how to live within its means rather than asking ratepayers and residents for more and more.
Over the next three years the council plans to borrow $150 million to spend on new projects, at a time when interest rates are rising fast. At the same time the construction costs for these projects are also rising fast, yet council continues to announce more spending. Add in general inflation and council has a big, and growing hole in its budget.
We need to slow down spending on new projects, bring rates down and invest in infrastructure and community facilities over time – not all at once.