Rating System Needs Review

Wanganui's new council needs to take a hard look at how it sets rates for district properties, says mayoral candidate John Martin. He said rates were emerging as a key issue with individuals and community groups he has been meeting during campaigning.

"There's a widespread concern that our rating system has become unfair over recent years. There's also a call for both local and regional rates to be looked at collectively with regard to affordability and priority of effort."

John says this highlights the need for a better partnership between Wanganui District Council and Horizons Regional Council.

He says the report of the National Rates Inquiry panel, released in August, was the product of months of consultation with a wide range of organisations. While weak in some areas and containing some recommendations that are appropriate for larger metropolitan areas only there are some aspects of this report that are relevant to Wanganui.

John says two key recommendations of the Rates Inquiry panel were to abolish differential rates and to move from land values to capital values as the basis for rates. "These are two important issues forWanganui residents and businesses."

"It's definitely time for our council to review our rates processes and consult with all sectors of the community to decide upon the appropriate solution for Wanganui. The current system was designed for a different era – it's time to look at the basics again."