One initiative I wholeheartedly support is the Feds guide to local government.
It is a succinct, well-written, well-argued 16-page document that should be required reading for all local government candidates.
They’re calling for level-headed local authority councillors when it comes to engaging with farmers and other ratepayers.
While I’m confident that could happen in Masterton I don’t like their chances in Auckland.
Federated Farmers local government spokeswoman Katie Milne said the guide promoted the latest thinking on how councils should be engaging with and providing services to farmers and other ratepayers.
She pointed out farmers were large funders of local government.
“Farmers need level-headed councillors who prioritise real needs over nice to haves,” she said. “They also need to respect the considerable contribution from ratepayers.”
She summed up claiming the farming emphasis was “fit for purpose at a fair price”.
I’d agree.
The document makes some telling points.
“For rating purposes farms are valued at their potential sale price. For farmers this seldom reflects their relative ability to pay.”
I know some local bodies, and Carterton would certainly be one, that regard farmers as cash cows.
Reassessing the way we are rated would be great for our industry and subsequently the country.
The document also points out that “over the decade 2002 to 2012 total (local government) operating spending increased by 114% or 11% per annum”.
Rates increased to almost the same level “by 93%”.
The document is extremely well researched showing how between 2006 and 2016 rates increased well above the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Analysing that, they showed the biggest increase amongst the groups comprising the CPI were “local authority rates and payments”.
Other large components – alcohol and tobacco, housing and education – were well behind the local government component of the CPI.
As I said at the start it is a really well-researched, well-argued and well-written document. I do hope local authority candidates and councillors take the time to read it.
The document is a great resource and Federated Farmers are to be congratulated for it.
