Dear Sir, I wish to comment on the article by Mr Anderson where he was referring to a Western Bay Council evening to inform the community on the annual plan and encouraging ratepayers to make submissions.
After a thorough outline of the issues and financial controls planned for Western Bay by my colleagues, he then referred that the only thing one councillor said it that was a govt problem. However I stand by what I said towards the end of the meeting.
15% of the the rate account is because of GST which is true. I said also which is true, that superannuates, wage and salary earners pay their rates and unlike a business or farmer they can not tax deduct this amount. So they are paying their GST with after taxed income, and at 15% this is a sizable amount on people's rates in the urban area particularly. Successive govts have not made it easier, and I think someone could talk to an MP about it. That was my point. I accept there may be no easy solution but someone in govt could do some work on the subject, and I just suggested he contact his MP but he said he was too old to bother. We will continue to keep rates as low as we can knowing it is not easy for people. We are ever mindful of this.

Cr Margaret Murray-Benge
Kaimai ward councillor
Western Bay of Plenty District Council.