Tauranga City Council watchdog group, Citizens Advocacy Tauranga, is worried ratepayers are not being told the truth, says CAT spokesman Leo Mangos.

Rates will rise this year by 14.9 per cent instead of the 10.9 per cent the council previously claimed, he says.
The rise printed in the 10 Year Plan consultation document was $1325 for 2008-2009, which contrasts with the average rate councillors agreed for 2009-2010 of $1522.
"CAT is concerned Tauranga citizens are not being told the true story of councilís current problems", says CAT spokesman Leo Mangos.
"Nor are they being told council responses to those problems and the cost Tauranga Citizens will bear for council decisions", Leo says.
CAT is conducting a survey to find out what Tauranga citizens believe an acceptable rates rise would be. There are three options: six per cent, nine per cent and 19 per cent.
CAT met the minister for local government, Rodney Hide, recently to outline concerns.
"Rodney agreed to attend a public meeting in Tauranga to communicate his vision for local government, to discuss the results of CAT ís rates survey and answer questions from Tauranga citizens. CAT will publicise details of this meeting when we have fixed a date", says Leo.
To vote you must be a Tauranga citizen over 18 years old. Send your name, phone number, and preferred option to Box 15249, Tauranga. Or visit www.afford.co.nz to enter your preferred rate rise choice online.