Mayoral Statements/Stance
The Mayor made a statement that was somewhat disingenuous at Tim MacIndoe’s meeting Fri 16th Feb 18.
“Everyone’s property has doubled in value over the last 5 years”.
He was asked via e-mail what was the relevance of that statement?
It bore no resemblance to the issue at the time i.e. rates increase and was pure prevarication. He has failed to respond.
A perusal of my own property records reveals the following for the 10 years 2007/08 – 2017/18:
2007/08 2017/18 $ Rise % Rise
CV $345,000 $485,000 = $140,000 40.58% rise in value
Rates $1105.16 $2365.31 = $1260.15 114.02% rise in rates.
Effectively the property has increased in value by less than half; however, the rates have more than doubled over 10 years.
Believe he was introducing a ‘red herring’ to throw the audience ‘off the track’ and succeeded.
What relevance has the CV of your property got to do with the services provided, it is inherently unfair. Admittedly some services are for the public good e.g. roads, however, there must be a fairer way to appropriate the cost, other than striking a rate-in-the-dollar on the Capital Value of your property each year to gain the required revenue and disproportionately spread the burden.
He stated that council was to explore operational methods of Claudelands perhaps disposal would be more beneficial. To date, Claudelands has lost $50,187,838. The A & P Association availability of use could be a condition of the sale.
He now supports a Hamilton Auckland commuter train, when during the election campaign he was vehemently opposed.
What has changed?
170 passengers per weekday subsidised by 158,500 ratepayers is grossly unfair. I may have been one of those 6 voters that got him across the line. In future, I will not support those campaigning or supporting a commuter train.
Rise and riddle, friends! Let’s solve this one together!
How much dirt is in a hole that measures four feet by four feet by five feet?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
What do you think of this 11-year-old's chosen cause?
A Whangamatā 11-year-old has placed his award-winning mullet up for auction to raise money for Starship Hospital.
Kahū Hall, who named himself ‘Taco’ when he was three years old, is selling his mullet after growing it for three years. Taco said he was motivated to raise the money after his friend Evie Taylor stayed at Starship Hospital for a heart operation.
What do you think of this 11-year-old's chosen cause? Tell us in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).