The Western Bay of Plenty District Council thinks that the NZ Taxpayers Union report on council rates does not compare apples with apples (The Weekend Sun, September 14). According to a spokesman "It's a snapshot of where individual councils are on their funding, investment and levels of service journeys".

For Western Bay ratepayers it is a bit more than a "snapshot". It is a full-length horror show because we have paid the highest rates in New Zealand for the last five years.

Claims that WBOPDC has invested more in Infrastructure than other councils are not true. Total assets per ratepayer for WBOPDC are not significantly higher than the average for similar districts. But liabilities per ratepayer are about twice the average for similar districts. WBOPDC wastes ratepayers' money on unnecessary projects like the new $6 million Katikati Library and a proposed $6.9 million boat ramp at Omokoroa.

The taxpayers union makes the very astute observation that WBOPDC is one of the few councils in New Zealand that does not have an Audit and Risk Committee. It needs to get one.

K Hay, Western Ward Residents and Ratepayers Association.