Luke Ruiterman

It is difficult to justify charging ratepayers the level of funding being requested.

Council funding should instead be allocated in a way that prioritises essential infrastructure and core public services first.

This would apply to all residents and ratepayers across the district, including urban and rural communities encompassing Ōpōtiki and Kawerau, if amalgamation is to proceed.

Priority funding areas should include water and infrastructure; sewerage and wastewater treatment, rubbish, green waste and recycling services; emergency management; and roading and footpaths.

Most ratepayers are already struggling with the rising cost of living and cannot continue to absorb significant rate increases for non-essential projects or activities.

The council business operation is too big and expensive to maintain for the number of ratepayers it serves.

There is also grave concern about the amount of money being spent on debt servicing and dealings with central government.

This places unnecessary financial pressure on future generations and creates uncertainty for households and businesses already under strain.

Solutions:

■ Privatisation options for some non-essential activities and discontinue the balance of non-essential activities

■ Drastically reduce staff, including at management level

Debt servicing option:

■ Negotiate our $220 million debt with central government as a non- interest-bearing loan over 50 years.

Paying back $4.4 million a year divided by 17,500 household ratepayers equals $251 a year per household. On top of a dramatic reduced annual rate if the above measures are implemented.