Transport Budget Shortfall
This is another article in recent news which sets the usual tone of how the Council needs more money from you the ratepayer.
These articles don’t seem to make suggestions of how money could be saved elsewhere, the messages seem to prepare the ratepayer for higher rates.
When is the NPDC going to start seriously thinking about how they are going to reduce the overall cost of running the Council ? Continual budget blowouts and shortfalls are having a big impact on the amount being paid by New Plymouth ratepayers.
The article talks of the possibility of street lights falling on our heads or bridges failing. The spin of the Council bringing fear to everyone so you understand why your rates bill must increase.
We have to ask the question – street lights – are they not the everyday basic infrastructure that is included in your rates – the activity the Council should take care of first before spending any money on anything else ?
This article quotes:
“NZTA had indicated $113 M would be provided in funding for New Plymouth Roads, but the final budget is only $86M - $27M less than expected”.
Quoted in the article “A council officer's report said councillors would have to consider increasing its level of funding to meet the shortfall, maintain its funding and reprioritise what projects went ahead, or decrease funding and axe some jobs “
Could the Ratepayers Alliance suggest if only $86M was received in funding then the Council works out a new budget for roading that uses just the $86M received. Draw up a new plan for just the critical work that is needed to repair old infrastructure.
We would also ask why the Council is not suggesting some “nice to have” projects in the Long Term Plan be put on hold and money from those diverted into any shortfall for critical infrastructure ?
If the Council truly thinks street lights are going to start dropping out of the sky, and bridges are going to fail, then why are they not suggesting multiple projects in the Long Term Plan are suspended and that money be transferred to spend on critical infrastructure work ?
The ratepayers of New Plymouth are not a bottomless pit of money who can continually cover a Council with a wish list of costs that just keeps getting longer.
These articles don’t seem to make suggestions of how money could be saved elsewhere, the messages seem to prepare the ratepayer for higher rates.
When is the NPDC going to start seriously thinking about how they are going to reduce the overall cost of running the Council ? Continual budget blowouts and shortfalls are having a big impact on the amount being paid by New Plymouth ratepayers.
The article talks of the possibility of street lights falling on our heads or bridges failing. The spin of the Council bringing fear to everyone so you understand why your rates bill must increase.
We have to ask the question – street lights – are they not the everyday basic infrastructure that is included in your rates – the activity the Council should take care of first before spending any money on anything else ?
This article quotes:
“NZTA had indicated $113 M would be provided in funding for New Plymouth Roads, but the final budget is only $86M - $27M less than expected”.
Quoted in the article “A council officer's report said councillors would have to consider increasing its level of funding to meet the shortfall, maintain its funding and reprioritise what projects went ahead, or decrease funding and axe some jobs “
Could the Ratepayers Alliance suggest if only $86M was received in funding then the Council works out a new budget for roading that uses just the $86M received. Draw up a new plan for just the critical work that is needed to repair old infrastructure.
We would also ask why the Council is not suggesting some “nice to have” projects in the Long Term Plan be put on hold and money from those diverted into any shortfall for critical infrastructure ?
If the Council truly thinks street lights are going to start dropping out of the sky, and bridges are going to fail, then why are they not suggesting multiple projects in the Long Term Plan are suspended and that money be transferred to spend on critical infrastructure work ?
The ratepayers of New Plymouth are not a bottomless pit of money who can continually cover a Council with a wish list of costs that just keeps getting longer.
Posted: Sun 01 Dec 2024