June 18, 2015 10:00am by David Farrar

Another huge rates rise

An almost 10 per cent rates hike and $550,000 of funding for the Capital Connection commuter train has been written into Greater Wellington Regional Council’s long-term budget.

Councillors voted on Tuesday to approve the final wording of its 2015-25 long-term plan, which includes an annual rates increase of 9.8 per cent – or about $38 for the average home – for the 2015-16 financial year.

Upper Hutt representative Paul Swain was the only councillor who voted against the final wording of the budget, because he felt the rates increase was too much.

It is too much. Inflation is 0.1%. Rates should be increased by no more than say 2%. A 10% rates rise is just a Council with no fiscal discipline.