Auckland Council’s 10-year Budget closes for submissions on 22 March and the region’s elected representatives are urging residents to speak up.
Deputy Mayor and Franklin Councillor Bill Cashmore, Manurewa-Papakura councillors Angela Dalton and Daniel Newman, and Manurewa, Papakura and Franklin local board chairs Joseph Allan, Brent Catchpole and Andy Baker all agree the budget needs to balance recovery with good management and careful spending.
“Sound financial management is important, but we must maintain the services we all rely on and support economic recovery both locally and regionally,” Cr Dalton says.
Her colleague Cr Newman says the revenue drop Auckland is facing can’t be ignored but important work must continue.
“I’d urge residents to get involved and tell us where their priorities lie because there are going to have to be concessions when there are things we can’t keep putting off because it will only store problems up for the future.”
Councillor Cashmore wants a balance between what must be done and residents’ ability to pay for it.
“A lot of people are feeling the pinch, but Aucklanders should be confident we are doing our part around costs by becoming leaner and cutting staff while continuing to balance value for money with maintaining services.
“This budget isn’t about austerity. It’s about keeping Auckland moving.”
And at a local level, board chairs say it’s as important as ever that residents are heard.
Mr Allan says they need to speak up about their priorities too, because the decisions made around the budget will impact on what happens locally.
“The pace of growth around us is such that it’s presenting not only infrastructure challenges but social ones too.”
Mr Catchpole says southern communities are experiencing rapid growth.
“We all want to see things done but progress is going to depend on this budget and the path forward that it charts.”
Further south, Mr Baker says it is important sound criteria are used to determine priorities.
“The last 10-year Budget aimed to increase infrastructure investment and this one goes even further to stimulate jobs and our economy. Our spending needs to be well-planned, with the council looking for ways to use local businesses and partner with communities to deliver projects more efficiently.”
Have Your Say
For more information visit: akhaveyoursay.nz/recoverybudget
