Hutt City is going well and the recent rates struck by council are among the lowest around. We are not just into low rates, but getting real value for the money we receive from our ratepayers.
I move around the city and see many families struggling. The demand for basic necessities and other essentials is high. My question always when considering the rates is : can our ratepayers afford it.
My council wants to increase economic prosperity. We seem to be going uphill against world news that economies are not looking very good, so where does the business come from.
Well its out there. A number of enterprises are looking to establish here in the Wellington region. We want them to come here to Lower Hutt and set up business.
We’re even going to help them through an economic stimulus package which eases the way through the consent processes and gets them started. That money, some $1.2 million, did not come from ratepayers, it was taken from our bottom line through savings made by council officers.
That shows to me that the council is unified in giving value to our ratepayers.
So I will keep you informed as the year goes on about how we are doing against our projections.
Hi Ray, it's really great to see the Council treating our money with care and respect. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI do though feel sometimes the greater good is lost with Councils financial prudence.
The council's recent revival of the long talked of Cross Valley Link would cost us, as Hutt City residents, about $700 each. With over 50% of the city standing to benefit through better access to SH2, be it from peoples homes, or to our industrial center in Seaview, surely the overall gains to residents need a good weighting in the decisions Council faces. If you can reduce traffic volumes on the Esplanade, Petone wins. If you can reduce travel times and distances from Wainui, Eastbourne, and other eastern suburbs on the valley floor, they win. If we can attract industry to Seaview through better access, Hutt City's growth and development wins. For projects like this, with a clear benefit to half the city, if we all fund it, over time we are all ahead. This is just one example of where slightly higher rates, for infrastructure gains, could benefit lots of us. It does mean a short term bulge in the rates take, but a longer term saving for us all, making such projects something to think about.
Keep up the good work! Richard. Alicetown.
Hi Richard. Many thanks your supportive comments. During the Long Term Plan discussion there was continued support for the Cross Valley Link (CVL). The NZTA is proposing a study on the Petone-Grenada link and we are pushing to have the CVL included in that study. So will see how we go. Cheers Ray
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