The future of Tauranga City is at stake.
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Straight from city council A personal view, by Councillor Steve Morris |
Over the next 12 months, Tauranga City Council will be making some of the most significant decisions it ever has on behalf of you. These decisions will shape the kind of city we leave the next generation. We broadly have three ways we can approach the future: going for growth, advancing amenities or a stronger financial position. Whilst these aren't mutually exclusive, I'll defy anyone who says we can do all three well.
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Going for growth. The government has required Tauranga City to have infrastructure for new housing, like water supply and roads, built more than 10 years in advance of being needed. This wipes us out financially so government has announced an interest-free $230m ‘fund' to help. Unfortunately, it's not a ‘fund', it's a finance package that must be repaid within 10 years and much of the bonus from the interest being taxpayer-funded gets passed on to developers. We'd grow quicker but this approach could leave us as a dormitory suburb of Auckland with little money for nice-to-haves.
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Advancing amenities. Council could ignore the directive from Wellington and use its balance sheet to build a better city by funding things like an iconic museum, new walkways, cycleways, better parks, more events, better transportation and improve 15th Ave/Turret Rd.
What road should we take? Contact me on 07 542 1602, email steve.morris@tauranga.govt.nz
Posted on 25-07-2017 23:19 | By astex
Anything would be better than what we have now. What do you mean "Fancy increased taxation without representation?". Isn't that what we have now? increased taxation (rates) and without representation? (not doing what the people want)