Peter Patterson

Further to Mayor Nandor’s article in last Wednesday’s Beacon on prudent financial management.

Well, there is no way our community can support a 9.4 percent rate increase this year proposed by Mayor Nandor and his councillors.

The amount may have been significant in 2024 Long-Term Plan, but is irrelevant in 2026 when inflation is only 2.5 percent and with the world fuel crises.

The plan should now be shelved as it was never able to foresee the fuel crises that is having a big impact on every cost our ratepayers are facing.

Regarding the opening deficit, this was incurred long before Nandor was on council.

Over the past nine years our rates have risen 70 percent and borrowings by 300 percent.

Maybe it is time for the mayor and councillors to get out on the streets and talk to the ratepayers of Matatā, Murupara, Edgecumbe and Whakatāne and get their opinions on how they will be affected by the 9.4 percent rates rise.

The majority of our ratepayers are affected by rising costs of food, power and now petrol.

Young families with mortgages ,who are our future, are especially affected.

Nandor, a rate increase of 3 or 4 percent would be acceptable and can easily be achieved by prudent financial management.