Councils Holding the Country to Ransom

[Perry]

So can the interest rates.

[eri]

2015? - Mayor Len Brown, said the council had $1.4 billion in the 10-year budget for the rail link, saying "by and large" it had the cost covered even if it climbs towards the upper limit.

july 2016 - the Herald reported the cost had jumped to more than $3 billion, prompting a complaint from Auckland Transport boss David Warburton who said the figure was "wrong" and the cost estimate remained at $2.5 billion, plus or minus 20 per cent

late 2016 - Aucklanders may have to stump up an extra $300 million for the City Rail Link after confirmation the cost has blown out to between $2.8 billion and $3.4 billion

The cost blowout, weeks out from the Super City elections and a new council, has the mayoral frontrunner and Labour MP Phil Goff calling for an explanation for why local and central agencies may have underestimated the costs.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11709815

but today we hear

.A senior council officer told the Weekend Herald that revised estimates for the $3.4 billion project have increased by $500m and "there are fears it is going to be over $1 billion" (4.4billion project) by the time the main contracts are awarded this year.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12196211

i can't admit to being overly surprised by cost overruns of a project this size

but >150% ?

what does surprise me is that len + goof spent + continue to spend like drunken sailors instead of prudently keeping some finance aside for this pretty predictable eventuality

but not really

they work for their base

and their base can't see past next year

so all they have to do is fluff around for a week pretending to be outraged

and absolutely refusing to deal with their own overspending

why can't they understand

that first world productivity gains are needed

to fund a first world society

[Don't believe the Hype]

2015? - Mayor Len Brown, said the council had $1.4 billion in the 10-year budget for the rail link, saying "by and large" it had the cost covered even if it climbs towards the upper limit.

july 2016 - the Herald reported the cost had jumped to more than $3 billion, prompting a complaint from Auckland Transport boss David Warburton who said the figure was "wrong" and the cost estimate remained at $2.5 billion, plus or minus 20 per cent

late 2016 - Aucklanders may have to stump up an extra $300 million for the City Rail Link after confirmation the cost has blown out to between $2.8 billion and $3.4 billion

The cost blowout, weeks out from the Super City elections and a new council, has the mayoral frontrunner and Labour MP Phil Goff calling for an explanation for why local and central agencies may have underestimated the costs.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11709815

but today we hear

.A senior council officer told the Weekend Herald that revised estimates for the $3.4 billion project have increased by $500m and "there are fears it is going to be over $1 billion" (4.4billion project) by the time the main contracts are awarded this year.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12196211

i can't admit to being overly surprised by cost overruns of a project this size

but >150% ?

what does surprise me is that len + goof spent + continue to spend like drunken sailors instead of prudently keeping some finance aside for this pretty predictable eventuality

but not really

they work for their base

and their base can't see past next year

so all they have to do is fluff around for a week pretending to be outraged

and absolutely refusing to deal with their own overspending

why can't they understand

that first world productivity gains are needed

to fund a first world society

eri - it’s about wellbeing not productivity

[Davo36]

And Goff will be re-elected this year.

No serious competition is there?

[eri]

tamihere?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12196024

[Perry]

Any potential candidates from among Auckland-area resident PT Forumites?

[Sportsvee]

I can offer up a can of baked beans to run for Mayor.

Has similar Mayoral qualities.

[Davo36]

tamihere?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=12196024

Sure hope not. Goff is useless, but Tamihere would make him look like the Einstein of how to run a council.

[eri]

Growth should pay for growth, but growth is not going to pay for council's excessive spending.

I am writing to warn you about the risk of big rate and rent rises linked to Hamilton City Council's debt.

We have already been committed to a 54 per cent rise over the next 10 years, but it will get worse.

There is a solution if we act soon enough. Council costs must be cut instead of raising rates.

Alternative infrastructure arrangements must be made so less borrowing is needed.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/opinion/110212847/andrew-bydder-grim-prediction-for-hamiltons-debt

[Perry]

Time For a Rare Bouquet?

Man gets $1.60 power bill for December after fitting solar panels
5 Feb 2019

The council announced a tender in January seeking expressions of interest from solar panel providers who were members of the Sustainable Energy Association New Zealand (SEANZ). Once a provider entered into an agreement with the council, the scheme would allow the council to cover the cost of solar panel installation through the accredited providers, who would liaise with homeowners. Ratepayers would then pay back the council for the cost of the installation through a targeted rate over nine years, alongside an administration fee and a 5.5 per cent standard interest rate.

[north shore]

Applications are now open for Auckland Council’s 2018/2019 Love Food Hate Waste Fund.
Food waste makes up 45 per cent of the average Aucklanders rubbish bag or bin, and waste audits show that nearly all of this can be put to better uses.
“Inspiring people to change their behaviour around food waste takes effort from the whole community,” says Parul Sood, Programme Director Waste Solutions.
“We want to help empower people to make real change in their local area, so we all can make the best use of the food we buy.”
According to new research from Love Food Hate Waste, New Zealanders throw away 157,398 tonnes of food a year. That adds up to nearly $1.17 billion worth of food that goes somewhere to rot, instead of being eaten.
Auckland Council is seeking applicants who have projects that focus on the following initiatives: planning food purchases and meals, creative cooking or recipes for leftovers (or commonly wasted items), tips for good storage of food, and raising awareness of the problem of household food waste.
Does this sound like something you are working on? Applications are open until 4 March 2019. Successful applicants can receive up to $3000 for their project.
Please note the Love Food Hate Waste fund will be allocated to projects that specifically focus on behaviour change and food waste reduction.
Visit the Auckland Council website for full information and to apply.

Would prefer council to concentrate on improving services in core functions

[Perry]

Yeah, but nowhere near the 'buzz' of something different!

[Davo36]

Applications are now open for Auckland Council’s 2018/2019 Love Food Hate Waste Fund.
Food waste makes up 45 per cent of the average Aucklanders rubbish bag or bin, and waste audits show that nearly all of this can be put to better uses.
“Inspiring people to change their behaviour around food waste takes effort from the whole community,” says Parul Sood, Programme Director Waste Solutions.
“We want to help empower people to make real change in their local area, so we all can make the best use of the food we buy.”
According to new research from Love Food Hate Waste, New Zealanders throw away 157,398 tonnes of food a year. That adds up to nearly $1.17 billion worth of food that goes somewhere to rot, instead of being eaten.
Auckland Council is seeking applicants who have projects that focus on the following initiatives: planning food purchases and meals, creative cooking or recipes for leftovers (or commonly wasted items), tips for good storage of food, and raising awareness of the problem of household food waste.
Does this sound like something you are working on? Applications are open until 4 March 2019. Successful applicants can receive up to $3000 for their project.
Please note the Love Food Hate Waste fund will be allocated to projects that specifically focus on behaviour change and food waste reduction.
Visit the Auckland Council website for full information and to apply.

Would prefer council to concentrate on improving services in core functions

Well me too, but what they're trying to do in this case is reduce the amount of rubbish (food waste rubbish) that goes into landfill. Rubbish is a core function.

And it costs a shit ton apparently. So if they say spend $50k coming up with some way to divert a bunch of it away from landfill then they might well save a lot of money

[north shore]

Sort of Davo, as we have this in some parts of the Shore for food scraps, to be extended across Auckland, regardless of opt in or out, you will be paying for it:
Extending the food scraps collection targeted rate to the North Shore former trial area

In 2014 a free trial of the food scraps collection service started for 2000 properties in the North Shore area. The foods scraps service was introduced in the Papakura area from 2018/2019 and funded from a targeted rate.
We are proposing to introduce a food scraps collection targeted rate of $68.34 for the 2000 properties in the North Shore former trial area currently receiving the service for free. This ensures all properties receiving the food scraps service are treated equally.
The foods scraps service is due to be rolled out across the rest of Auckland from 2020/2021.

[Perry]

"This ensures all properties receiving the food scraps service are screwed equally."

Sounds like Auckland Council. Well, any council, for that matter.