Mayor of Nelson

Halt the unaffordable and unrequested $45 million library project.

Request that portion of GST collected in Nelson by central government is used to offset rates in Nelson.

Push back against the costly Three Waters reform. Current rating and investment for these is retained in Nelson, rather than spent up north.

Ensure council spending is delivering for Nelsonians, providing the best possible value for investment and keeping service provision local.

Remove the uniform annual general charge, keeping our rates system progressive and avoiding steep increases for our lowest value properties.

Advocate strongly to central government the need for alternative revenue sources, including greater government investment in the region.

Push for reform that allows councils to keep a percentage of the GST collected in their district so that they are less dependent on rates.

Keep borrowing well below the limits set in council's financial strategy. eg net external debt not to exceed 175 percent of total revenue.

Keep rates increases to those forecast and consulted on through the 2021-2031 Long Term Plan process.

Constrain rates so as not to add to the current huge financial pressures on households and businesses from high inflation and interest costs

Halt the proposed $46 million new Nelson Library that is not affordable.

Ensure the lessons are learnt from the cost blowouts on $7m Greenmeadows and the $455,000 spent on two toilets at Queens Gardens.

Start a new, wide-ranging and open discussion on the basic purpose and ongoing viability of a money based operating system. Is it working?

Open 'clean-slate' conversation on council and community goals, responsibilities and challenges before, during and after transition to resource-based economy.

Short term, borrow as required to assure community and environmental well-being and sustainability, ie do no harm, spend the fake tokens!