Rates meetings planned

Ruapehu Bulletin, 10 August 1990, Page 2

Rates meetings planned

Ruapehu District ratepayers are urged to attend one of the series of meetings the council is organising to discuss the rates issue facing the council.

Mayor Garrick Workman said the purpose of the meetings was not to tell people what is happening but to ask them to come along and dis-

cuss what is happening and why. He said the council will be asking for suggestions with sound, reasoned arguments as to

what ratepayers feel needs to be done. Ideas from the meetings will be taken to the August full council meeting. It will be there that the council has to decide on a system of apportioning rates. "I can't impress enough on people how important these meetings will be for the council and them," said Mayor Workman. He said councillors and management staff will be at the meetings to explain to people the various factors that have led to the present situation and how it developed. Five meetings are to be held in the southern Ruapehu, at Orautoha,

Ohakune, Raetihi, Rangataua and Waiouru. Mayor Workman said there were a number of possible solutions to the problem, and that while a differential rating system has not yet been looked at, it could not be ruled out. He said other councils had implemented such systems, including the T ararua District Council which had 29 different differentials in its system. If a differential rating

system were to be considered it would have to be backed up by sound and valid reasons, said Mayor Workman. He said if such a system was chosen it would take longer to implement than a uniform districtwide system.