UPDATE: Upper Hutt Massive Rates Increase
An update from us:
You are one of the over 1300 amazing people out there that have signed the petition and have done your best to go through the waffle in the Consultation Document booklet and submitting to the council, AMAZING.
We are 2 people who are doing our best to help the community to fight this Massive Rates increase and of possible make sense of the Council. We are running low on our personal batteries but will continue to do the best we can to help the community to fight the proposed rates increases.
We have had a couple of offers of help in certain areas, and the ideas/views on FB all help. Thank You.
We are learning a lot through this process and don’t by any means pretend to know it all, and never want to mislead anyone. Hand on heart, we can say we are trying to help our community to the best of our abilities.
To contact us you email us on fightuhrates@gmail.com
Today we visited the Brewtown event and spoke again to the council reps. Again, we got different answers. Besides that we believe we were given some pearls of wisdom and direction.
It is suggested that if we, the community, don't and, can't stomach the massive rates increases then we should suggest that we push the debt payment and depreciation out and smooth the rates increases out over more years.
This would make it more affordable for all. Someone with more of an accounting background may be able to shed some light on this. It’s way above our pay grades :-)
Also, due to some very helpful direction provided today at the Brewtown meeting (Thanks to the source) we have been directed to the conditions around submitting a petition to the Council.
It refers to clause's 17.1-17.3 in the Upper Hutt Council Standing Orders.
One of the items states to limit the petition to under 150 words and it has to reach the Chief Executive 5 days before the date of the meeting, so that it is within the conditions to be able to present to the council. So what we are proposing to do is remove some of the words from the petition, but not add any other details, to meet the conditions.
We are going to be changing the wording below.
==== Petition wording Current Version ====
As a resident of Upper Hutt City, Wellington, I am deeply concerned about the proposed Rates increase.
Many in our community have expressed concerns that this will/may cause hardship and negative flow-on effects on our community. Many are already struggling to make ends meet and this additional financial burden will only exacerbate our difficulties. These rates increases could potentially cause major hardship for homeowners, renters and the community as a whole.
The proposed rate increase is not just an economic issue; it's a social one as well. It threatens to widen the gap between those who can afford it and those who cannot, creating further divisions within our community.
Mr Wayne Guppy has been Mayor of Upper Hutt since 2001 and we call for accountability. He has been in charge of the books and city for almost 24 years and should have been aware of upcoming financial costs to the city. The councils financial mismanagement should not be the ratepayers issue.
Please have a read and add your voice to this call on the rates increase in Upper Hutt.
I need your help! Stand against this massive rate increase by signing this petition today. We have till the 1st of May 2024 to show our concern about this increase.
Together we can make a difference for all residents of Upper Hutt City! Let's make councils accountable for our hard earn't money.
Here is a link to the Long Term Plan. https://letskorero.upperhuttcity.com/ltp
==== Petition wording Updated Version ====
As a resident of Upper Hutt City, Wellington, I am deeply concerned about the proposed Rates increase.
Many in our community have expressed concerns that this will/may cause hardship and negative flow-on effects on our community. Many are already struggling to make ends meet and this additional financial burden will only exacerbate our difficulties.
These rates increases could potentially cause major hardship for homeowners, renters and the community as a whole.
Mr Wayne Guppy has been Mayor of Upper Hutt since 2001 and we call for accountability. He has been in charge of the books and city for almost 24 years and should have been aware of upcoming financial costs to the city. The council’s financial mismanagement should not be the ratepayer’s issue.
Together we can make a difference for all residents of Upper Hutt City! Let's make council accountable for our hard-earned money.
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If you don't agree with the changes and wish to have your name removed from the petition please get in touch.
There has been an amazing response to the petition, and we thank all who have signed and provided comments.
Call us greedy, but the more the merrier.
Share and help others sign the petition.
fightuhrates@gmail.com