Promotion rate survives challenge

Ruapehu Bulletin, 13 August 1991, Page 3

Promotion rate survives challenge

Partial funding for the Ruapehu District's marketing manager (yet to be appointed) will come from a special promotion rate on businesses, despite a late attempt to cancel the rate. At last Friday's special full council meeting to formalise the striking of rates, an objection to the promotion rate was heard from former Taumarunui mayor Terry Podmore. He called for the scrapping of the rate, claiming it would be fairer for all ratepayers to share the cost of the marketing manager. He also claimed the rate could harm the fund-raising efforts of the promotion associations in the district because business people would not want to pay twice. Most, if not all, councillors agreed with the idea of a marketing man-

ager but some dis agreed with the promotion rate for businesses, which would fund $56,000 of the $160,000 promotion budget. Mayor Garrick Workman said he had approached business people around the district to gauge support for the idea. He said when it was explained what the marketing manager would do support for the idea was unanimous. Mr Workman said the role of the manager would be different to that of the Ruapehu South Turnpage4

Promotion From page 3 Business Association and ProTaum. He said those organisations provided information services rather than carrying out a promotional role. Cr Margie Snow supported the promotion rate, saying all ratepayers would be contribut-* ing but that business # ratepayers would pay a« little extra. She said* businesses would benefit • the most initially from * the efforts of a market- 0 ing manager. • The motion to scrap • the promotion rate was * lost nine votes to four. 0 Northern councillors « Don Lawson, Weston • Kirton and Graeme Cos- • ford asked that their * votes against it be # recorded. •