Rates rebellion at an end, says ARC chairman

The new chairman of the ARC, Mike Lee, has announced that nearly 99 per cent of its ratepayers have paid last year's rates.

He said the rebellion, which was a response to households facing regional rate increases as high as 657 per cent last year, appeared to have run its course after making its point.

During the rebellion people said they would not pay their ARC rates.

"In fairness to the 98.6 per cent of ratepayers across the Auckland region who have paid their rates, I want to encourage the few people who still have an outstanding debt to make arrangements to begin payments," Mr Lee said.

He said the council clearly heard people's concerns about rate rises, and ratepayers could be sure those concerns had been taken on board.

"This council will work hard to keep rates down and keep any increase to the rate of inflation," said Mr Lee.

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