Straight from city council A personal view, by Councillor Steve Morris

The Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta has decided to replace those you elected with Commissioners. Local government by the people, for the people, has been suspended. What does this mean for Tauranga?

Some I've spoken with are hopeful that well-publicised failures by the Council organisation will be put to bed with 'a new broom”. However, in reality, Council staff will continue to manage the city; albeit without the impediment of councillors, elected by the community, representing those who pay the bills. Commissioners are accountable to the Minister alone, not the ratepayer. The justification she and her advisors are using is chilling for our fixed-income residents.

According to her advice, released under the OIA, the Minister expects Commissioners to set a "robust" budget as councillors, chosen by you, won't "set rates at a realistic level." The DIA has advised her that a "realistic" level is "a rate rise of 18-20% year-on-year" over the next ten years. This is despite Tauranga already having some of the highest residential rates of any city in New Zealand.

That's on top of a 6.5 per cent increase for rubbish disposal that commissioners will implement later this year. Taking a conservative view of compounding rates, the minister's instruction to her commissioners will see an 80 per cent increase in TCC rates over the next three years. For a couple in Gate Pa, rates will increase from $2,045 to $3,681 in 2023. A brick-and-tile home in Papamoa will go from $2,650 to $4,770. A house in Oceanview Rd, Mt Maunganui, goes from $6,410 to $11,540.

Hope is not lost, there are encouraging moves in the community about a ratepayers' 'alliance” which will take up the cause.