The decision by the City Council to retain City Care should be greeted by all rate payers in Christchurch with relief.
That said, it should never have been on the list to sell in the first place. Sadly, we have a few Councillors who seem wedded to an outmoded and demonstrably wrong model of governmental agencies. It's good to see that the Council has backed away from that flawed notion. What is it, and why is it so dangerous to the future of our city?
The fact is that over the last few years a minority on our current Council seem to have pursued an agenda that says that Central and Local Government are unable to run effective and efficient commerical operations: that this task is better left to the private sector. Under this view, we end up only owning assets that by their nature cost the rate payers more and more. They build and maintain things (roads, sewers, etc) that generate little or no direct income.
But Christchurch hasnt been that type of city. For decades we've built up a portfolio of assets that include income generation, as well as supporting social good (eg, social housing, libraries, recreational facilities). That's meant that when we've wanted to invest in new infrastructure we've had the income coming in from revenue generating assets to help pay for it.
Roads, parks, sewers, the proposed new Town Hall, even a new sports arena: all these are needed/ wanted in the near future. If we did not have the income generating assets, we'd be levying much higher rates on home owners and businesses.
Thankfully past generations of city leaders believed that by its nature the Council is a vital player in our economy. And that we could produce goods and services just as effectively as the private sector. The difference wasnt in the ability to deliver profit: but rather on what was to be done with the money that was delievered.
Selling assets now would not have been just short-sighted: it would have been criminally negligent. We'd have been saying we wanted to benefit now, and leave the real costs of growing our city on the shoulders of future tax and rates payers. The People's Choice opposed that view. We think every generation should benefit from the income of assets previous rate-payers worked hard to build up. "Buy now, pay later" too often is costly in personal life, and too often is costly in the public sector.
I'm pleased that The People's Choice fought to keep assets like City Care. I'm proud to stand with them as they show sound financial management and keep rates rises down. There was never a need to sell. Thankfully now it wont be happening.
That's why I'm standing with The People's Choice. They'll ensure we keep our city's assets.
That's why Im standing in Waimairi.
That's why I'm standing for you.