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

The indefatigable Western Bay Mayor, Garry Webber, has unapologetically pushed for neighbouring Tauranga City Council to adopt a high rates agenda for years, but has he had his facts wrong?

Last week, Mayor Webber provided a table to the Bay of Plenty Times portraying Tauranga's rates as lower than other cities. However, as you'll be aware looking at your own rates bill, he underestimated TCC rates in every case.

As well as underestimating TCC rates, he significantly overestimated Wellington's by more than $1000 a year for properties with a $500,000 capital value and by more than $2000 for those valued at $1 million. The table gave the false impression that Tauranga is somehow starved of ratepayer money.

The NZ Taxpayers' Union was less kind, criticising the table as 'nonsense on stilts” because it compared 'apples with oranges” and that it 'would make Enron's accountants blush”.

The table failed to recognise that Tauranga residents pay water rates separately and that WBOPDC, Wellington, Hamilton and Dunedin residents don't. Neither was there an allowance for rubbish, which residents of other major cities pay for through their rates, but Tauranga and WBOPDC don't (until July at least).

When I asked the reporter why she didn't check the numbers before publishing, she said she expected those in a position of authority to know what they were talking about. Not a totally unreasonable expectation, but with the international rise of fake news and alternative facts, it's more important than ever to ensure that transparency, truth and accurate information is reported about local councils.