Waiouru balks at rates rise

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 541, 21 June 1994, Page 3

Waiouru balks at rates rise

By

Michele

Monaghan

The Waiouru Community Board will be discussing proposed Ruapehu District rates increases at a meeting being held tonight in the school staff room at 7.30pm. The Community Board hasuntil 24 June to make submissions to the Ruapehu District Council about the draft annual plan for 1994-95. "We need public support. It would be handy for the public to come and express their opinions," said board member Kerry Harding. Facing five perent rise Waiouru rate payers were expecting about a two percent rise in rates with the introduction of a separate ward rate. Mrs Harding said the council has now projected an average rise of five percent. Mrs Harding calculated the increase on four separate Waiouru properties selected at random. She worked out that all four properties would have an increase of 13

percent or over if the draft annual plan is accepted. "A lot of questions need to be answered, for instance $54,821 has been budgeted for road maintenance. How it could possibly cost that much with just five roads is beyond me," said Mrs Harding. "Water rates are going up 10 per cent. They (the council) said they needed less revenue for water this year so why are they going up?" Under the draft plan rate payers will be paying $21,000 for the cleaning of Waiouru' s one and only toilet. "That works out to $403 per week," said Mrs Harding. Ohakune' s cleaning bill works out to $269 a week and Raetihi's $192. Mrs Harding said the board would definitely be addressing these apparent anomalies. "It's time to stand up and be counted" she said.