Well done Steve Morris for calling out Western Bay Mayor, Garry Webber, and asking if he has his facts wrong about TCC rates.

Mayor Webber has problems with the financial situation in his own district also.

WBOPDC is currently consulting on their Long Term Plan. Mr Webber claims they have received more than 40,000 individual pieces of feedback on the LTP. Unfortunately, council's consultation has concentrated on relatively trivial issues. Their key proposals include cycle-ways and walking tracks, swimming pools, community halls, CCTV cameras and elder housing.

These are red herrings to draw attention away from more important issues like why rates need to increase by 12 per cent (about $7 million extra a year) when council will have an operating surplus of $16.9 million this year and $31.6 million next year (page 490); why net debt will increase from about $100 million now to more than $250 million by 2031 (page 146); why council's debt per household will increase from about $4000 now to $9000 by 2031 (page 212).

Did they ever ask ratepayers if it was okay for Omokoroa to get $129 million for transport and utilities when Waihi Beach will get $9 million, Katikati $14 million and Te Puke $14 million?

Keith Hay, Secretary Katikati–Waihi Beach Residents and Ratepayers Association