It is refreshing to read the articles in last week's Sun from Brian Anderson and councillor Norm Mayo regarding the situation regarding rates, debt and the sad state of the Omokoroa white elephant.
It would very interesting to know the exact level of debt the Western Bay of Plenty District Council holds at present, what principal is being repaid each year and the outlandish values that WBOPDC held land is valued on the books? I'll bet the farm that the true debt it is far from what they tell us and the land values are not achievable in our present climate. I'll also bet the farm that the financial crisis at Omokoroa has more to tell us than we are told at present. As a captive land owner ratepayer I object to my rates for ever increasing and having to largely fund debt, are we land owners the only people that use the roads, water, sewerage, libraries etc or are we just a convenient captive base, I say we are the minority paying for the majority? Council you are well up the garden path without the shovel. You have had no mandate to accumulate land, bring your town planners (dreamers) to heel and get real!
Leigh McKinnon.