Labour and Greens want unlimited rates increases
Very pleased to see the Government commit to a law that will tie rates increases to a mixture of inflation and GDP. The era of local government being able to fund every pet project Councillors like is coming to an end. In future they will need to prioritise spending on core infrastructure and facilities.
But Labour and Greens are vowing to fight this law, and I am sure will get rid of it if they win the next election. This will mean Councils can go back to 20% annual rates increases. Here’s some of the increases over the last three years that Labour and Greens are vowing to allow to continue:
- Hastings 49%
- Wellington 47%
- Hutt 45%
- Napier 43%
- Hamilton 41%
So if Labour and Greens get in, expect your rates bills for the next three years to increase by 40% or more, while if National is re-elected the rates increase over three years should be no more than 12%. With households already struggling, who can afford your rates to go up by another $1,500 or more?