Well well what an ugly head has reared itself in regard to your comment councillor Baldock ‘If you can't afford the rate increase downsize or move on'. I have lived here all of my life as did my family before me who came here and broke in farms on inhospitable land in Ohauiti putting in long hard days and doing their best to contribute to the community.

So why Councillor Baldock should I have to consider either of your suggestions because you are part of a council that is unable and seemingly unwilling to rein in your extravagant spending?

Your comments show a blatant disregard for people who have chosen to make Tauranga their place of residence and who may well now be struggling to pay for exorbitant rate increases.

Councillors seem to choose to forget they are employed by the residents of Tauranga to do what is needed not what is on Council's wish list.

If a business was run the way the council operate theirs it would soon be out of business as they would price themselves out of the market.

The problem is there is no accountability for Council actions and even when there is strong opposition they go ahead anyway and to me this shows an extremely arrogant attitude towards city residents regardless of whether they are renters who pay for rate rises in an increase in rent, or ratepayers.

Time for Tauranga residents to stand up to the council and its extravagant demands on the public purse.

Shirley Caughey, Gate Pa