Saturday, 25 August 2007

Congestion Tax in Wellington Possible

According to Stuff, NZ's biggest internet media site, the Wellington Regional Council is proposing a brand new "congestion tax" during peak travel times on the City's motorways and highways, using the success of the scheme in other world cities (London being the main example) as a justification for the tax. A congestion tax is also being planned in central Auckland.

Although the "congestion tax" is a lot fairer than other taxes because of the fact that it's a user-pays scheme, but, like all councils and governing bodies, I'm certain it's merely an excuse for another tax. Unless rates were lowered in Wellington to have a larger percentage of income come from this possible new tax, I think it'll simply be another case of more financial burden on Wellington's residents. For the time being, we'll have to see what happens.

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