Tauranga ratepayers would rather make sacrifices than pay more rates, a Citizens Advocacy Tauranga survey has found.

The result means the city council is out of touch with its citizens says CAT spokesman Leo Mangos.
'The actions of Tauranga's mayor and councillors show they are not aligned with the views and wishes of the citizens whose money they are spending,” says CAT spokesman Leo Mangos.
'While our mayor and councillors cause Tauranga's rates burden to accelerate away from Rotorua and Hamilton, Tauranga's average wage languishes at the bottom of the three cities.”
The survey results send a strong message to Tauranga City Council that their rate rise and spending plans are not supported by a large section of our community, says Leo.
Eighty seven per cent of those surveyed want a six per cent rates rise, even though that will require a reduction in community assets and services being provided by the Tauranga City Council.
Tauranga citizens are concerned the city council's financial burden on the Tauranga economy creates an unwelcome downward spiral. Council productivity is very low and does not generate income for the city.
'Taking money out of the local economy leaves less money for our productive, income generating private companies,” says Leo.
The council should stop wasting ratepayer money and concentrate on the provision of community essentials, which is what Local Government Minister Rodney Hide wants them to do, says Leo.