Council Officials Say No
Councillor Cathy Casey picked up this from Radio NZ late last night:
$1.5m for motoring charges referendum
Updated at 9:03 pm on 21 November 2014
Council officials say the referendum on new motoring charges or boosting petrol taxes and rates would be too costly and complicate decision-making on the issue.
A report by officials puts the cost of a referendum at $1.5 million and recommends that an independent survey of Aucklanders’ views be carried out instead.
Officials said the council would still have to run its statutory consultation on how and whether to raise an extra $300 million a year for transport projects.
But Councillor Cathy Casey said today that the outcome was likely to mirror an earlier survey about the Waterview Connection in which 97 percent of Aucklanders opposed a proposed toll.
Ms Casey said that was only over one tunnel – let alone several motorways – and there was no doubt that a referendum on this issue would get a big response.
Councillors would discuss the report next Thursday.
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Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/259952/$1-point-5m-for-motoring-charges-referendum
Too complicated or Council chicken of the eventual result. The Question and subsequent answers I would assume would be straight forward and ask:
To Help Meet the $12 billion funding gap to allow the Auckland Plan Transport Network to be fully delivered, which of these options do you prefer:
- $2 motorway toll or,
- Rates Rise plus fuel taxes or,
- None of the above and Council to go back to the drawing board
I wonder which of those options would garner most likely a super majority response?
Talking Southern Auckland 