No more debt free county

Ruapehu Bulletin, 17 August 1990, Page 4

No more debt free county

• As a rate payer in what was known as the Waimarino County I object to a 78% increase in rates. When the Waimarino County was first amalgamated with the boroughs of Raetihi and Ohakune the county was completely debt free and had surplus funds, which was a credit to the councillors of the day. At that point in time the county was a real asset, no debt, new machinery and well maintained roads and bridges. The surplus funds were soon used by the new

Waimarino District Council to off-set the cost of amalgamation. Now I learn that the Ruapehu District Council has borrowed $500,000 for this amalgamation. Please forgive me and other rate payers who thought that local body reform was to utilize capital, plant and save money. I thought that rates would have decreased with the scale of economy and all the savings in lack of

duplication etc. Not the 5.7% increase we are all facing this year. And we still have to repay the $500,000. Since amalgamation the county roads have deteriorated. I guess when we are paying the top five administrators $335,000 plus houses, cars, superannuation and a huge redundancy package if they get put off that would cost a lot more, plus $224,000 paid out to elected

people. It doesn't leave much money for roads and services. So as a rate payer in what was a debt free county I don't want my rates loaded to pay for high salaries, others indebtedness and mismanagement of the

past.

Adrian

Godfrey