I understand the Local Government Act 2002 has been amended, and that council should:
• Report details of the financial performance and position of the council for the three years to the election.
• Prepare statements comparing rates and rate increases, borrowing and returns on investments with limits and targets set in the financial strategy.
• The changes also encourage council to focus on core services defined as network infer structure public transport waste collection reserves and recreation facilities.
Is it not about time our Mayor and council started to do as the amended act states, so that the ratepayers should be the ones who decide what our money is to be spent on?
Our rates have doubled under Mayor Crosby's 6 year term and we have not paid a cent off our debt, but it has increased. We can only hope that the new CEO can get us back on track, but when Mr Towns was appointed we were told he was going to put things right, well for $400,000 a year he was grossly over-paid.

E.K. Mills, Tauranga.