Our streets are polluted with big empty lemons costing us millions. I raise the issue of the buses in Tauranga because, I believe, they are a perfect example of a leaderless local government.
We all see the near empty buses going round and round our streets. We know the Gold Card Holders do not pay to ride. But do you know what it is costing us ?
I wrote to the BOP Regional Council and obtained the following information. The Bus Service, in Tauranga, has been running for ten years. To Date it has cost the Regional Council (us) $30m to run them for ten years. Add to that a Government Subsidy (us again) of $13m over ten years. Also add costs for Tauranga City Council (also us)to accommodate them. The grand total is about $50m that it has cost you and me.
It is difficult to get a true figure on the income side but a recent report, by a councillor, stated a 13% return, That is about $6.5 million of income over ten years. No private business could possibly operate like this for one year let alone ten years!
This is a Classic Case of Dumb People, using public money, to run a loss making business without the Guts to say stop. It is not working. Cronin and Co must go.
Ken Evans, Tauranga.