Waiouru wants differential rating

Ruapehu Bulletin, 17 August 1990, Page 8

Waiouru wants differential rating

Waiouru ratepayers only want to pay for services they receive from the council. That view came forward at a public meeting at the Ruapehu County Club on Tuesday to discuss the rates issue. Ruapehu Mayor Garrick Workman, told residents of the council's rating requirements and asked members of the public for their opin-

ions on the subject. The goal of the annual plan for the 1990-91 year was to carry out more work in the district for the same, or less money, as last year. The council needs an increase of at least 5.7% in overall funding if it is to avoid hardships in carrying out its projects. The Mayor went on to say that he realized excessive rate in-

creases were not going to be acceptable to the community. As Waiouru is to get $124,000.00 worth of work the Mayor felt that this was "a fair share", of the total council budget. However, there was vocal and heated disagreement from the members of the public.

The contentious issues ranged from storm water drains and flooding problems, to sewage charges in the rates bill. Murray Fitchett summed up the feelings of the ratepayers by saying that he preferred a differential rating system where Waiouru residents only pay for what they use and services they receive. He said

that they only had a library, swimming pool and recreational areas because the army let local residents use them, not because the council had provided them. The meeting concluded with the residents expressing their feelings of continual isolation when it came to services provided by the council.