Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger has proposed suspending the controversial cathedral restoration levy on ratepayers, arguing that it no longer makes sense to collect funds for a project that has been mothballed.
The move, he said, could help provide immediate relief to ratepayers while safeguarding the funds already raised.
The $6.50 annual levy, introduced under former mayor Lianne Dalziel’s administration, was designed to help raise $10 million of public funds for the cathedral’s restoration.
The move faced strong opposition at the time, with the majority of public submissions rejecting the proposal. Despite this, the funding plan proceeded.
Former Christchurch Mayor Leanne Dalziel pushed for a Cathedral levy, despite submissions against the idea.
Speaking to chrislynchmedia.com in an interview to be broadcast tonight across Chris Lynch’s channels, Mauger said approximately $7 million has been collected so far, with $3 million already handed over to the project. The remaining funds are still accumulating.
“Now that the cathedral’s on pause or mothballed, why are we still collecting money for it?” Mauger said. He proposed stopping the levy immediately and depositing the remaining funds into a bank account to earn interest.
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“The money we’ve collected so far can sit in the bank and start compounding. This way, we could reduce rates by a small amount, which is something we desperately need to look at during the upcoming annual plan discussions.”
Mauger acknowledged opinions about the levy remain divided. “It’s quite strange. I’ve had people come to me saying they’d happily pay $65 a year to see the project finished, while others are absolutely against it. It’s a contentious issue, and any decision would need public consultation.”
The mayor stressed that the funds collected under the targeted rate cannot legally be redirected to other projects. “Whether people like it or not, this money was collected specifically for the cathedral. It has to remain earmarked for that purpose,” he said.
However, he said halting the levy could provide immediate relief to ratepayers while still preserving the existing funds for the project. “If we don’t start reducing rates in this annual plan, we’re going to be in deep trouble.”
The idea, Mauger said, is still in its early stages. “We’re just bouncing it around at the moment. It might be a way to lower costs for ratepayers while the cathedral project remains stalled.”
