Whilst the Councillors may feel content with announcing a rate rise of an average of 3.80% in my view it's a very disappointing outcome when taking into account low inflation along with record low interest rate.
In time, inflation and interest rates will increase and with a city debt approaching $400 million just an average 1% increase, in borrowing interest rates, will result in an increase in rates of over 4% .
In my view this rate round was the golden opportunity for the Council and councillors to be responsible and announce a zero or negative rate rise so that future rate rises will not necessarily be as great.
Maybe the fact that there appears to be a lack councillors with any financial or for that matter business skills is the problem, as with that comes a lack of any ability to plan for the present let alone plan for the future.
Whilst borrowing rates are low so are deposit rates and this creates enormous pressures in particular on fixed income earners, such as the elderly, who are earning less but being expected to fund increasing costs of many items including in this instance an average 3.8% increase in rates.
No not a good result councillors, for any of the residents living in this city, as this is a time that we required restraints on spending matters not the same old borrow and spend mentality and then later on pass on the costs to ratepayers.

Mike Baker, Bethlehem.