Kia ora Hello

My name is Wendy Joy Baker and I am proudly standing for Mayor of SDC.

I truly care and my main priority is to reduce rates. Council rates are obviously too high and some people are struggling to pay them. This is evident in the information obtained from SDC website: https://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/council/elections/candidate-information-requests-to-council/

The amount of rates arrears to 30th June 2025 was $2,680,787.

I am very concerned about high costs and high spending within SDC. This is also evident from information obtained from same website. For instance consultants' costs from March 2024 to February 2025 was $2,915,425.75 ( GST exclusive).

Other high costs include playground upgrades including one costing $544,618.11. They was also a high cost for a public toilet block of $682,443.

Additionally there was the high purchase cost of the Mayoral vehicle $58,062.94 ( GST exclusive). Then there was the newspaper and radio advertising cost totalling $321,992.91 ( Jan 2023-June 2025).

The SDC CEO ( Cameron McIntosh) got $382,062,00 salary in 2023/24. Refer weblink: https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/southland_broke_but_top_dollar_to_ceos

Other staff, like Compliance and monitoring team got a combined salary total of $749,891.11 in 2024/25 year.

The total cost of roading maintenance contracts is $31,851.032 (2024/25).

The rent ( 2024/25) for the two SDC offices in Don st Invercargill cost $107,818.84 and $203,796.63. Then there was additionally the rates cost for the two SDC owned offices in Invercargill!

The debt owed by SDC totals at $91,575.000. The interest on this debt is paid for by ratepayers!

Therefore costs overall need to be cut and debt reduced to benefit ratepayers and reduce their rates. That's fair and caring.

As an example I have paid over $30,000 in rates to SDC since 2013! As far as I am concerned some ratepayers don't get value for money from rates.

Across NZ there is a growing concern about high rates. I have been proactive and have created this recent Petition (reduce rates):

https://petitions.parliament.nz/bdf1e1a7-fce3-4d63-926e-08ddd598c17b

There are many things which need improving by SDC including: Better customer service, better/more efficient Core services, safer/better dog control, better maintenance of War Memorials, more formal appreciation/ acknowledgement of volunteers, better/ transparent reports, user pay systems for water and rubbish bins, better reserves Maintenance etc.

My background ( in brief) CV available: Champion athlete ( 35 medals), Valuable Volunteer, Diverse range of qualifications, previous Council employment ( over 7 years). 25 years a Ratepayer in NZ .

Authorised by Wendy Joy Baker, [email protected]

CLICK HERE for a full list of candidates in the Southland District Local Body Elections 2025