Ring-fence rates money for roads, says NAG

Calls are being made for money from general rates to be ring-fenced for sealing rural Rodney roads in Auckland Council’s annual budget for 2022-23.

Northern Action Group (NAG) chair Bill Foster told this month’s meeting of the Rodney Local Board that the region didn’t receive a fair allocation of the Regional Fuel Tax (RFT) or rates funding in general.

“We have 23% of the roads in Auckland and if we had 23% of the rates, we should be getting $122 million for roads,” he said.

“We have 4% of Auckland’s population, 2% of which is rural Rodney – 2% of AT’s budget in capital expenditure would be $25million a year, or $38 million in operational expenditure.

“As it is, we get $4 million a year. Whichever way you slice it, we’re being seriously underfunded.”

Foster said the Board’s annual $150 transport targeted rate for buses and footpaths did little for rural ratepayers and residents.

“All ratepayers pay the rate, but it only benefits urban ratepayers. Some 60% of Rodney ratepayers are rural,” members heard. “Fairness demands targeting an equivalent amount that is paid by all, but benefits rural ratepayers.”

Foster said the money should come from the uniform annual general charge, making the effect neutral on ratepayers.

“The responsibility for underfunding Rodney roads should be placed squarely on the Governing Body, not the Rodney Local Board, who represent Rodney ratepayers.”

He urged members to oppose Council’s proposed new climate change targeted rate.

“We’re getting nothing much of significance from any rate and Rodney Local Board should be opposing it. The sensible way is to allocate a chunk of money from existing rates to make the effect neutral on ratepayers and for the Rodney Local Board to advocate for fairness for rural people,” Foster told members.

“It’s a great opportunity for the Board to put the onus fairly and squarely on the Governing Body and support your community.”

He conceded that Board improvements to the road sealing programme were a good thing, but said the funding level was still inadequate.

NAG also called for the Local Board to oppose Council’s plans to put rubbish collection on general rates instead of the current ‘pay as you throw’ orange bag system, as it would cost ratepayers more and de-incentivise waste minimisation.

Foster also suggested a number of ways the Board could help to bring Rodney’s widespread and diverse communities together more, including a public database of all community group contacts and an annual meeting of community groups with Local Board members.

He said NAG would be supporting a local MP’s Private Members Bill pushing for fairer governance for Rodney later this year.

“Rodney watches Council spend up on urban city projects while it continues to pay ever higher rates, targeted rates, and the RFT, but gets little back,” he said.

“It’s time Rodney got its equal and fair share of resources.”