Fought hard against 7.9 per cent rates increase
“We were asking council to challenge itself, scrutinise spending and investigate whether meaningful savings could reduce the impact on Auckland households.” Photo supplied
By Bo Burns, Howick Ward Councillor
Over the past few weeks, I received hundreds of emails, messages, phone calls and people stopping me on the street about Auckland Council’s proposed rates increase to 7.9 per cent.
The message was consistent.
Pensioners were worried. Single parents were worried. Small business owners were worried. Families already juggling mortgages, insurance, food and power bills were worried.
I want those people to know that I heard them.
Firstly, let me say that I have respect for Mayor Wayne Brown.
I supported him through both mayoral campaigns and recognise the difficult job he has leading a city of 1.8 million people while balancing major infrastructure demands and financial pressures.
However, I could not support a 7.9 per cent rates increase without first asking whether we could do better.
I was not afraid to take the challenge to find more savings. I am a business owner, so I know how to make money, but also identify how to save money.
Alongside Maurice Williamson and six other councillors, I pushed for Auckland Council to look harder for savings and efficiencies before asking ratepayers to carry more of the burden.
We weren’t proposing cuts to libraries, parks, playgrounds, or local community groups.
We were asking council to challenge itself, scrutinise spending and investigate whether meaningful savings could reduce the impact on Auckland households.
In the end, we lost the vote. Each 1 per cent we dropped by, we had to find savings of $30 million – so a 2 per cent drop meant $60m in savings to find.
Difficult, yes. Impossible, no.
Unfortunately, we didn’t win the vote with our amendment of 5.9 per cent, so 7.9 per cent was approved, and remember this is an average, not an overall general capped rate.
We deserve a council that never stops looking for value, never stops asking the hard questions, and never forgets who pays the bills.
I will be hosting an afternoon in the coming months, deep diving into rates, and options moving forward with guest speakers.
This will be a great event for all to attend, and you can follow updates on this here: www.facebook.com/boburnsnz.