Hawke's Bay ratepayers shouldn't foot bill for amalgamation poll

The Poll on whether Hawke’s Bay’s five councils are to amalgamate is set to cost ratepayers approximately $245,000 and is a shameful waste of ratepayer money, says Napier MP Stuart Nash.

“Of the five affected councils only Hastings District Council has expressed support for the Local Government Commission's proposal to merge Hawke’s Bay into a single super council,” says Stuart Nash.


“Napier, Wairoa, and Central Hawke’s Bay have sent very clear messages that they are strongly opposed to the proposal. It’s also no secret that the Hawke’s Bay Regional Councillors are divided over this issue, yet their ratepayers will bear the largest financial burden, having been apportioned just over half the cost of the Poll with a bill for $122,500 plus GST.


“Despite that, the ratepayers of each council will now have to contribute to the overall estimated cost of nearly a quarter of a million dollars.


“This proposal was instigated by lobby group A Better Hawke’s Bay, and forced on us by the Local Government Commission, yet neither of these organisations will have to stump up a cent,” says Stuart Nash.


The total cost of the Poll includes a fee for Electoral Officer Warwick Lampp, and the costs for public notices, voter pack design, printing, mail processing, postage, insurance and vote processing. The final cost will vary depending on how many votes are received, but has been budgeted on an estimated 65 percent return from the 110,000 electors on the roll.


“Not only have we had this Poll forced on us, we now have the costs forced on us as well. I suspect the ratepayers of Hawke’s Bay will get a shock when they realise this,” says Stuart Nash.


Below is a spreadsheet from the Electoral Officer showing apportionment of costs for the Reorganisation Poll.

HB Reorganisation Poll Cost Allocation
 
Council Number of Electors (Prelim Roll) % of total electors $
Wairoa                                            5,376 4.86% $5,950
Napier                                          42,763 38.65% $47,332
Hastings                                          53,014 47.91% $58,678
CHB                                            9,496 8.58% $10,511
TA Subtotal                                         110,649 49.99% 100.00%
  $122,471 $122,471
 
HBRC                                         110,649
Taupo HBRC                                                 38
Rangitikei HBRC                                                 14
HBRC Subtotal                                         110,701 50.01%
  $122,529 $122,529
Total electors                                         221,350
 
Total Estimated Cost of Poll $245,000 $245,000