Business. Scoop » Council’s $97 Million Savings Claim Doesn’t Add Up
Press Release – Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance“This is being sold as a major success, but the fine print tells a very different story. Nearly half of these so-called savings vanished on 1 July, while next. . .
Press Release – Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance“This is being sold as a major success, but the fine print tells a very different story. Nearly half of these so-called savings vanished on 1 July, while next years savings target is even higher,” said Ratepayers Alliance spokesman Josh Van Veen. 6 AUGUST 2026The Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance is calling for greater scrutiny of Auckland Council’s claim that it exceeded its $86 million savings target, after a council report (https://aucklandcouncil. resolve. red/portal/meeting/13597/99595?type=1&docId=33594) revealed almost half of the reported savings were one-offs. Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson’s Value for Money Committee today celebrated $97. 2 million in savings. However, $47. 3 million of that total came from temporary measures that will not reduce the council’s ongoing costs and will need to be found again next year. Ratepayers’ Alliance spokesman Josh Van Veen said:“This is being sold as a major success, but the fine print tells a very different story. Nearly half of these so-called savings vanished on 1 July, while next year’s savings target is even higher. ”“Much of the result came from higher consent fees, increased regulatory revenue and rental income from properties the council has not yet sold. That is good fortune, not structural reform. ”“Desley Simpson has promised to cap next year’s rates increase to 3. 5 percent. But she will need more than one-off windfalls and creative accounting to deliver on that promise. ”“There is still plenty of fat left to trim at Auckland Council. The Ratepayers’ Alliance would be more than happy to help identify it. ”The Ratepayers’ Alliance has requested a meeting with Deputy Mayor Simpson. NOTES:TheAuckland Ratepayers’ Allianceis a not-for-profit community group dedicated to championing prudent fiscal management of our Super City. Membership is free and open to all Aucklanders who sign up atwww. ratepayers. nz. Content Sourced fromscoop. co. nzOriginal url