Ryan Bridge: I don't mind paying the train tax
Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Newstalk ZB
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Show Notes
I don't mind paying the train tax in Auckland, even though I won't be using it.
Rates are going up 7.9% next year. Which let's be honest, is like Woolworths selling butter for $7.99.
It's 8%. Wayne Brown is the 8% man.
Mr Fix it is hitting us in the pocket, and it will hurt.
An extra $320 for your average ratepayer. The average goes from $4,055 to $4,375.
If we didn't have to subside the City Rail Link's operations, it'd be 0%.
Now, usually, something like this would get me a bit angry. I'd be tempted to go tag the side of a locomotive in the middle of the night with a cartoon of Wayno saying some like "Let's F Auckland". Just remove the ix from his campaign slogan.
I don't generally use public transport because it's not convenient for me to do so. It's a timing and location issue, really.
But if we don't subsidise the users, then it won't get used. If it doesn't get used, then roads will stay clogged. If roads stay clogged, that's time and money down the drain.
If the thing does what it says on the label —and we haven't actually seen that yet because the bloody thing hasn't opened— it'll be worth the extra $300 a year to me via other gains.
This might be naïve or a touch too hopeful, but if this thing works then I don't mind paying the train tax.
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