Mike Fletcher

Ōpōtiki District Council appears headed for a perfect financial storm.

That will whack ratepayers.

The rolling 10-year plan, signed-off this year for the next three years, forecasts a huge jump in rates for the2026-27 year beginning next July.

This jump could be 22 percent depending on circumstances.

As slaves to the plan, our elected worthies ignored the economic pain being felt by ordinary people – and a cry by folk from North Cape to the Bluff to keep rate rises to an absolute minimum.

They will argue – assuming they are re-elected in October – that capita works must be done and that an agreement to take up the managing of our upgraded harbour must be acted upon.

Absolute balderdash. Bollocks. Or any other strong word that comes to mind short of obscenities.

For starters, the council could have negotiated with the Government a new deal not to take over harbour responsibilities.

Common sense points to the regional council doing the job. It has the infrastructure and a harbourmaster.

Why should Ōpōtiki ratepayers pay for looking after an asset it does not own?

An asset designed to boost commercial activity.

The capital works programme should have been cut to the bone and beyond.  Jobs deferred. Jobs cut out.

In approving the bible-like master plan the lawmakers failed in their responsibility to set a rate-rise that people can live with next year and in following years.

In a depression, the hand-wringing codswallop that services must be kept in tip-top shape does not wash.

A few councils have kept their rate rises in check, even as low as three per cent.

If they can do it, so can Ōpōtiki. Provided the councillors have strong stomachs for tough cost control. Including writing a new master plan that delivers a three-four percent increase.

Hard to see it happening here, though. For years and years our councillors have failed to keep dogs and horses under control.

And looming – certainly in the mayor’s mind – is a new cost to fund a sewer at Hukutaia. Normally, developers pay up front for sewers, water, stormwater roads and stuff.

Not in Ōpōtiki if David Moore is returned and persuades councillors to adopt his plan, which will likely impact the existing sewer system.

The ratepayers will pay. Presumably to make the land attractive to developers. Who will then meet some costs.

Our lawmakers – all of whom can readily afford to pay rate rises – are living in a bubble divorced from the pain of the people.