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BLOGS & POLICIES

Auxiliary Spending

8/9/2020

4 Comments

 
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Unlike a company owner or manager, the Mayor doesn't control the purse strings directly. Yes there is a lot of influence and direction, but it is the various offices and administrations that do the real spending.
So what can a Mayor do, to help control the expenditure?

I believe the Mayor is the spokesperson for the city and that means the Mayor is the spokesperson for the people.

So, on behalf of the people, armed with a small team of carefully selected staffers, the Mayor should be looking into every single dollar going out the door, finding if it is justified or not, and if not, collating solutions and suggestions to get things back under control. This is what I will be doing.

From there, it is the Mayor's job to take the recommendations to not just the Councillors, but also the COO and CEO - the people at the top of the food chain. 

Then, finally, to really make it work, the Mayor should be constantly informing the public about the finds, the suggested remedies, and the truth about what does or doesn't get fixed. 

Councils and Governments are the same in one particular aspect - they like to make out as though the money is theirs, and that they are doing us all a favour by spending it on things they think we want. (but often is simply things they want). 

The rhetoric needs to change. Council needs to treat your money with respect, and it needs to work budgets like a regular household does. Along with that, it needs to stop the spin doctoring and be brutally open and honest about it all.

As I regularly state, if you can't afford something, you don't do it. 
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I invite you to click the button below to peruse the long list of spends for Auckland Council (excluding CCOs). These are the suppliers with a spend equal to or greater than $50,000 for the financial period 1st July 2019 to 31st January 2020. 

View Financial PDF
4 Comments
Christine Lyons
8/9/2020 09:42:14 am

Millions of dollars spent on construction and contracting. I have never heard of most of these companies. For instance what is Ventia NZ Limited $49,527,391 paid to? And Wheelers Book Club Limited $1,476,068. Book Club????

Reply
Elizabeth Cooper
8/9/2020 07:51:09 pm

I am now thoroughly ‘annoyed’ ( I am being polite) Who are these people and what did they do to receive these payments. Do you have any info Craig? This is only 6 months spending!!

Reply
Mikemik
14/11/2021 03:15:58 pm

A tiny amount of research would show you.

Ventia lay data cables, notably to Auckland's library network. Wheelers sells books to Auckland libraries.

If you can't even be bothered doing the most basic research, how can you justify getting so upset?

Libraries have undergone a huge change in service model over the last few years, across the world. They are catching up with the need to have high-speed links for digital downloads, online terminals in the library, improved data services for things like maker hubs, etc.

The existing government data infrastructures are mostly built around the needs of the staff, not the customer.

These projects support increased services for the customers of libraries.

Reply
Mike
14/11/2021 03:10:44 pm

A quick google search would show you Ventia have just laid an undersea data cable to Waiheke, have upgraded high-speed fibre across Auckland, improved infrastructure for Aucland libraries and other civic buildings.

Wheelers Books is a business supplying books to other businesses, in this case, libraries.

Again, a vert, very brief google search would have shown you what they do.

Reply



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