This week, we’re hitting pause to recap just how your rates have been spent-and to reflect on the performance of the Council Executive and Councillors who back these decisions. With a 7% rates hike coming (and no real consultation!), Mayor Holborow claims it’s due to areas such as higher infrastructure and maintenance costs. But is that the full story? Let’s look at the facts:

Inflation check:

• CPI: 2.5%
• Construction inflation: 2.7%
• Primary materials: <2.2%

Yet, our rates are rising at nearly triple these figures!

Council salaries:

• Staff earning over $100K jumped from 94 (2021/22) to 144 (2023/24)
• 4 staff now earn in the new band of $240–380K!

Let’s see what savings the Mayor has made.

Discretionary spending:

• Grants & Partnerships are arguably the largest discretionary spend-Mahara Gallery is now the biggest single grant recipient in recent years.

• Economic Development Board will receive $31M, but with minimal accountability and scant metrics. Ratepayers are footing the bill for a board with little transparency. Look at this size of the number of people governing the entity if you want to see.

Water & Asset Transparency:

• The Local Water Done Well initiative has exposed major gaps in transparency and asset valuation. The proposed debt transfer and lack of clarity on future rates are big red flags. Spoiler alert, it is all leading to an aggregate increase in the total rates.

The truth:

• Rate rises are NOT just random or unavoidable-they’re the result of Council direction that ignores affordability for everyday ratepayers.
  
• When the Mayor says “at least it’s not 10%,” remember: this is an old marketing trick. There is no real plan to change, consult, or be transparent. Fixed-income ratepayers are being squeezed.

What can you do?

• Seek candidates who value fiscal prudence and real transparency. They will be coming.
  
• Don’t settle for people who will talk -look at their track record!

We will be here to provide support for candidates who seek these outcomes. We need YOUR help. Tell your friends. Follow us.