Democracy HQ A personal view, by Councillor Steve Morris

If you're feeling disappointed by decisions to increase rates by 20 per cent, frustrated at how your money is being spent on a $14.2m increase in Council staff salaries this year, disenfranchised by having your right to vote taken from you, you're not alone.

A strong voice for ratepayers is more important than ever. So a group of Tauranga residents, chairs and former chairs of ratepayers associations, civic leaders, and local members of the Taxpayers' Union have come together to form the Tauranga Ratepayers' Alliance.

The Government has an agenda of unconstrained growth for our city and they're trying to make existing residents pay through the nose for it. The Alliance is well-organised and its mission is simple: to be a strong voice for reasonable rates, sensible spending, and more transparency.

For all the rates to be collected and the billions of dollars in borrowing in your name, the Commission's budget neglects the one thing our residents demand the most: the significant road building required to keep up with growth. The Alliance will shine a light on Council expenditure and insist that it's focussed on good value infrastructure that our city needs.

The Commission may be unelected, but they cannot be unaccountable. Make your voice heard! Join the Tauranga Ratepayers' Alliance by visiting: www.TaurangaRatepayers.nz

It's time.