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Auckland 2016: Goff's rivals say his rates cap is more of the same

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Mon, 8 Aug 2016, 9:26PM

Auckland 2016: Goff's rivals say his rates cap is more of the same

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Mon, 8 Aug 2016, 9:26PM

Phil Goff has promised to launch an "efficiency drive" at Auckland Council if he becomes mayor, to keep average rate rises at or below 2.5 percent.

He said he wants to change the culture so it is more effective and responsive, improve efficiency by three to six percent and sell surplus non-strategic assets.

He also said he wanted to scrap the city's transport levy, work with the Government on infrastructure funding, and investigate infrastructure bonds and road charges.

But his rivals said his policies were similar to those proposed by current mayor Len Brown.

Here is what the candidates have said about the policy, in their own words.

Phil Goff

The Mayor’s first responsibility to the people of Auckland is to make sure the city is managed in a fiscally responsible way. Unfortunately trust and confidence in the Council has fallen to a very low level and the expected savings from amalgamation have not been made over the past six years. Under my leadership, that will change. I will lead a Council focused on cutting fat from the system, responding more effectively to the needs of residents and providing more transparency around the spending of ratepayers’ money.

While more than half of New Zealand’s growth is in Auckland, the extra GST and income tax collected goes to central Government. I will advocate for Auckland to get its fair share of that extra revenue to pay for servicing that growth. o reduce the risk of even greater gridlock and a worsening housing crisis, we need an additional $17-20 billion for core infrastructure to support future urban land areas. It is inappropriate and unfair to fund that solely through the blunt tool of raising rates. We need to find alternative innovative funding sources such as sharing more Government revenue with Council, public-private partnerships or raising infrastructure bonds.

I will also advocate for the removal of the flat levy on rates to pay for a shortfall in transport infrastructure funding in favour of a road charge. This could be in the form of a petrol tax that is later replaced by a congestion charge or toll. It is only fair that those who benefit most from using the roads contribute to the cost of reducing congestion. Implementing this fiscal policy will be an important step towards restoring ratepayer and Government confidence in Auckland Council by ensuring that in future it works effectively and efficiently in the best interests of the people of this city,” said Phil Goff.

Vic Crone

Phil Goff is trying to trick Auckland voters into thinking he will be a safe pair of hands and can deliver what we urgently need. But his record stands loud and clear. Thirty years beltway politics - no real world experience. As Labour leader, Phil opposed every single spending cut. In five years Phil and Labour increased government expenditure by 50 percent. Nine Labour budgets saw interest rates double and no wage growth. Under Phil and Labour the economy went into recession. Phil and Labour left New Zealand with a decade of deficits. He lambastes National at every opportunity - how can they have a constructive relationship?

Phil has had 'his people' write and cost this policy, and says he just accepted their advice. We've already had that kind of Mayor, on cruise control while people around him make the important decisions. I've personally researched, costed and written my policies. That's the kind of switched on leadership Aucklanders can expect from me. The message I will be sending voters is that if you thought Len Brown was bad, Phil Goff will be worse. Having blue signs and talking a hard line on Council spending is not going to change Phil's record and the fact that he will always be, as Andrew Little says, 'tribal Labour'.

Mark Thomas

Goff is critical of Watercare not paying a dividend and yet the only way this can be achieved is if water prices were to increase. This would be tough on many Aucklanders struggling to pay their bills. He is promising the same 2.5% rates increase which Mayor Len Brown famously broke in 2014 with his 10 year Long Term Plan budget. He is silent on whether he will continue to reduce the business rate differential or make the Uniform Annual General Charge fairer by increasing it.

The Labour MP wants a regional petrol tax, infrastructure bonds, a congestion charge and a bigger Auckland share in the Government’s Infrastructure Fund. He controls none of these and while Auckland traffic congestion worsens he seems set to continue to battle the government as a defacto ‘Deputy Leader of the Opposition’. His consultants have given him a plan of 3-6% spending cuts across each council department. He says he has accepted their advice yet it lacks any specifics or timeframe. Len Brown cut the transport budget by $110 million and that’s a key reason why we are going backwards.

Goff talks about bringing in “top executive” consultants to achieve the changes he wants. He risks being hostage to his consultants because he doesn’t understand Auckland Council’s business. Council currently spends $200M per year in consultants. My plan is to reduce this cost, not increase it. My rewrite of the Auckland Plan will refocus council better on resolving Auckland’s key transport, housing and growth problems. Goff’s ‘hands-off’ fiscal plans won’t deliver “more from less”. Auckland needs a new mayor making more progress in the areas they control, and less preoccupied shadow-boxing.

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