Amalgamation, developers with agendas, stormwater, wastewater, roading, a regional councillor calling for more staff for Smartgrowth, untenable rate rises, the Tauranga City Mayor who will not stand at the next election but wants to be a regional councillor.
What does this say to you?

Has Auckland's super council delivered benefits for the ratepaying public?
No, and it will continue to become an uncontrollable monster with millions of dollars of rates paying for an un-elected Maori consultative committee that is becoming an ever-tightening vice on progress.

Smartgrowth, born in 1997/1998 was supposed to be the cogent link between Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty's planning documents, roading and wastewater infrastructure.

Just how much of this exercise is understood by the public? And if Smartgrowth is so smart, just what have they achieved in the last 16 years and at what cost to the ratepayer? This region is hugely overstaffed for the elements, areas, services and statutory requirements that are a territorial and regional authority's obligation to meet.
The percentage ratio of staff costs to rates revenue are too high. In Tauranga City alone, $38 million of staff costs translates to 34 per cent of the rates revenue.

Multiply that by the 65-70 Local Government authorities throughout the country, all providing the same service, and ask yourself are we ratepayers nothing more than a job-funding machine or just sheep, here to be fleeced?

Maureen J Anderson, Pyes Pa.