As a Western Bay of Plenty district councillor I am having great difficulty in achieving a zero- rated budget for you the ratepayer.

Tuesday [May 26, 2020] was the Annual Plan meeting to set rates and I was the only councillor who voted for a zero-rate change!

After a lively debate, most councillors decided to vote with the Mayor and accountant on suggestions of a rate rise.

This council has been the highest rated in the country for many years, as well as in recent times, setting the rate levels of 4 per cent [increase] - over 2 per cent higher than the CPI - along with a cash surplus. It is one council that could afford to give the public some respite on their fixed costs in these difficult times.

Many are losing their jobs and businesses are closing, which in my opinion has not finished yet.

The flow on will be for some years to come. The 30-40-year olds will be the worst affected, because they are the ones who have borrowed money to build/buy or set up businesses!

It was said to me at the council meeting that it was we councillors that signed off on all the development projects and so we were responsible for council costs incurred.

I pointed out that we, as councillors, have very limited knowledge on most council spending and that's why I have been asking [a number of times] for an independent review of council spending, because I am sure savings could be made!

There will be another annual plan meeting in June for a final decision on rates, now would be a good opportunity for ratepayers to submit emails on rates.

Christina Humphreys, Katikati