Dunedin mayor Dave Cull say he is committed to keeping rates within a self imposed 3% limit – about three times the inflation rate and after increasing rates in previous years.
ODT reports:
…it was signalled that $700,000 worth of extra costs discovered by council staff would make it tougher for the council to stick within the 3% limit.
But then:
Council group chief financial officer Grant McKenzie said the $1 million allocated in last year’s annual plan towards installing lights at University Oval…
…would make it easier to get rates lower? No, this is Dunedin.
…could be spent on one-off projects in the 2016-17 year, after the project was dropped.
What?
Mayor Dave Cull said having access to the funds was welcome and would allow the council to fund items the community indicated it wanted.
What about members of the community want escalating rates brought under control?
The spend mentality is one problem. So is Cull’s claim “the community indicated it wanted”? How does Cull know what “the community” want?
During feedback, submitters were positive about all areas of additional spending consulted on, Mr Cull said.
Did they choose more spending over reducing rates increases?
How many submitters? Some on the council have a habit of claiming that an active minority somehow represents everyone.
Like this today from Councillor Jinty McTavish:
It’s great to see Dunedinites calling for ANZ to follow the Council’s lead and divest from fossil fuels.
But ‘Dunedinites’ didn’t all feel the same way about the protest.
Stuff reports: Protesters blasted by passersby for blocking elderly customers from entering ANZ bank in Dunedin
More than 120 climate change protesters blocked entry to three ANZ bank branches in George Street.
Spokeswoman Niamh O’Flynn, of 350 Aotearoa, said the protest was targeting ANZ because the bank invested in, and supported, businesses that caused climate change through their activities.
Protest in a democracy. But obstructing people from going about their business isn’t as flash.
Does councillor McTavish think that is good Dunedinite behaviour?
One passerby berated the protesters who refused to budge for an elderly woman wanting to use the bank.
“Come on you . . . . let the old lady in,” he said.
“Get out of the bloody way. You are doing your cause no good.”
Customer Jennifer Lee said she needed to use the bank, “and I had no choice but to take off my shoes and climb over them”.
Perhaps they are some of the same submitters who urge the council to spend more of other people’s money.
I asked Jinty how many Dunedinites thought obstructing other Dunedinites was great but she hasn’t responded yet.
