The commissioners have committed Tauranga Council to spend over one billion dollars of capital spend on the CBD These figures include inflation, but do not include cost overruns. The final tally will be much higher (SBOP City Center Capital Spend). There will also be interest and running costs of tens of millions of dollars a year. The civic center alone has estimated running costs of $26m per year. The city center projects are sucking up all of the councils available funding so that no money is available for other projects. That is not sustainable.
These figures have been prepared by Glen Crowther from Sustainable Bay Of Plenty (Glen’s website).
We will get a better idea about council finances after the election. Be prepared for nasty surprises.
Back room deals, budget blowouts, massive rates incerase, massive debt. Is it any surprise that Tauranga council has the lowest approval rating of any council in New Zealand ( see Scoop and The Post).
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