Rates caps are one thing, but what are council’s core services?

Auckland Council funds a range of public events around the city each year. File photo supplied

• By Howick Ward Councillor Bo Burns

The Government’s proposed rates cap has reignited an important conversation about council spending.

I don’t have an issue with the principle that councils should live within their means, find savings, create innovative new sources of income and focus ratepayer money on the services Aucklanders actually need.

For Auckland, the mayor has already promised rates increases of around 3.5 per cent for each of the next two years, putting us below the Government’s proposed four per cent cap.

But for me, there is a much bigger conversation we need to have: what exactly are the council’s core services?

I think most ratepayers would have a fairly clear answer.

Roads and transport, rubbish and waste, water infrastructure, stormwater, parks, pools, libraries, community facilities, and the essential services required to keep Auckland functioning.

We then need to transparently look at how much we spend in each of those buckets, whether we are getting value for money and where our priorities should sit.

When households face financial pressure, they prioritise. They pay the mortgage, electricity and groceries before spending on nice-to-haves.

You wouldn’t expect a family struggling to pay its bills to dine out for 5-star expensive dinners, instead of buying cost-effective groceries.

Council needs to apply the same common sense.

That doesn’t mean things such as public artwork, beautification, or other discretionary spending have no value.

It means that when finances are tight, we must distinguish between needs and nice-to-haves.

I believe we should pause nice-to-haves while we are struggling to find a budget to fix serious infrastructure shortfalls.

Just as I have pushed for a proper governing body discussion about Auckland’s rates system, I want us to have the same transparent conversation about core services.

A rates cap alone won’t fix council finances. We need discipline, innovation, alternative revenue, efficiencies, and clear priorities.

Aucklanders deserve to know their rates are being spent wisely on the things that matter most.