National Park rates compared

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 440, 16 June 1992, Page 5

National Park rates compared

Rangataua residents concerned at the National Park assistance levy should know what ratepayers there would be paying without it, said Ruapehu mayor Garrick Workman last week. He said the annual levy on ratepayers throughout the district, increased to $20 this year, is a loan to National Park and will be paid back. Rates with the assistance are very high in National Park, said Mr Workman, but they would be about $350 higher without it. Based on the average $15,000 land-value section, a National Park

ratepayer is paying $377.49 for sewerage alone. Without the assistance they would pay $749.45. On top of that has to be added $190 for water, the higher Northern Roading Rate (0.69 cents in the dollar), the general rate (0.54 cents), the Uniform Annual General Charge ($275), refuse collection ($50). This adds up to $1200 to $1300 for the average ratepayer in National Park, said Mr Workman. By comparison Rangataua ratepayers are paying $85 for their sewerage scheme operations, plus $257 for debt servicing (where appli-

cable), plus general rate, UAGC, roading rate (southem) etc. National Park ratepayers say the present rate situation there is killing possible development. National Park "scruffy" Progressive Association chairman Chris Chapman said the town is scruffy with no attractions and development of the town would have to start from the beginning, to turn the town around. He said the permanent population (68) was declining and that people can't handle the present rate levels let alone increases.