A Stratford support worker is unhappy with his rates bill and says ratepayers aren't getting good value for money.
Stephan Dyer is concerned that rates increase will push elderly out of Stratford, calling rates increases "exorbitant". He wanted the Stratford Press to investigate why his rates bill had increased and how the cost compared to New Plymouth.
He says although he pays similar rates to a friend in New Plymouth, he gets fewer services.
Why are we paying the same as New Plymouth and getting no where near the service or amenities provided.
"If they keep this up a lot of pensioners here won't survive."
Stephan has lived on Craig Street for the last 11 years and is on a pension but also works. His rates bill this year is $2430.40 compared to $2332.85 last year - a 4.18 per cent increase. His rates bill in 2016 was $2241 and in 2015, $2154.07.
"Superannuitants will soon have to move out of Stratford if they keep this up."
Stephan's rates were compared against his friend's rates bill at a Vogeltown address. The Vogletown address was billed $2475.42 this year, compared to 2354.49 last year - a 5.14 per cent increase.
Stratford District Council director of corporate services Mark Weidenbohm says the comparison between New Plymouth and Stratford rates was complicated. Factors include the solid waste charge being for a different level of service. With rubbish collection Stratford residents have a weekly 120-litre bin allowance compared to New Plymouth's 60-litre bag.
Another difference is that Stratford District Council ratepayers are rated based on capital value, whereas New Plymouth calculates rates based on land value.
Stephan says a lot of baby boomers are now starting to retire, which was ok without a mortgage, but unaffordable on a pension.
"Why are they continuing to rise? If they are going to rise with inflation that's fair enough - maybe our superannuation should rise too but it doesn't."
Mark says the overall rate increase in Stratford this year is 2.98 per cent, with the rate take increasing from $10.932 million to $11.257.33 million. This excludes GST and Taranaki Regional Council rates.
"Individual properties can move by more or less than 2.98 per cent depending on the services used. In the case of Craig Street it is 4.18 per cent."
Mark says rates levied are derived from total expenditure and not linked to inflation. The overall rate increase is capped by the financial strategy which for 2017/18 was 4.53 per cent.
"The rates increase is driven by costs incurred by council. These can vary from year to year and are often driven by service level changes and costs of new capital projects."
Stephan says Stratford doesn't have the same facilities as New Plymouth and the ones it does have are funded from philanthropic organisations like the Taranaki Electricity Trust, TSB Community Trust and other sports charities.
"Why are we paying the same as New Plymouth and getting no where near the service or amenities provided?
"I think our rates are exorbitant when we compare."
Council chief executive Sven Hanne says all councils are trying to maximise external funding for their facilities, including New Plymouth which has an aquatic centre called the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre, indicating how it was funded.
He says external funders usually provide capital towards construction and upgrades, not the annual running costs, which still fall onto the community.
"Very few facilities are fully funded, but larger funders may ask for naming rights. Our recent library upgrade was 70 per cent council funded. Thanks to the Lottery Grants Board and TSB Community Trust for the other 30 per cent."
Sven says key services between New Plymouth and Stratford are pretty much the same. Value for money is subjective, he says and it comes down to what facilities ratepayers used and which ones they didn't. Lifestyles in New Plymouth and Stratford were also different.
"Of course we don't have the same number or size of facilities as a district more than eight times our size, neither do we need them, but on a per capita basis I would argue we are extremely well equipped."
Sven says there are many things you get in Stratford that you don't get in a bigger city, including free (time limited) parking in the main street, housing affordability and mostly cheaper council fees.
Mark says the Department of Internal Affairs operated a low income Rates Rebate scheme available to people living in their own home which was calculated based on the rates income and the total household income.
The maximum rebate ratepayers can receive is $620.
Stratford and Districts Grey Power president Peter Hartley says he hadn't heard much talk from Stratford ratepayers about their rates bills, but said the Greypower Federation was always concerned about rising costs.
He said superannuation had increased by around $5 per week on April 1, but it was based on the previous calender year's costs. There had also been an increase in insurance costs and other things like dental care were expensive. He said if two pensioners lived together often their combined income meant they did not qualify for a rates rebate.
Add GST onto all of the increases and the elderly were being hit hard in the pocket.
"I think there will always be people struggling."
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THE NUMBERS
A breakdown of Stephan's total rates - $2430.40
General rates: $238.10
Uniform annual general charge: $687
Roading targeted rates: $219
Solid waste: $ 311
Water supply: $574
Waste water supply: $302
Regional council rates: $99.30