Tauranga rates to increase by 3.7 per cent

Tauranga City Council approved the adjustments to the draft annual plan today.

Elected Members have today approved adjustments to Tauranga City Council's draft Annual Plan for 2019/20 that would lead to an average residential rates increase of 3.7 per cent.

The adjustments are included in an indicative draft Annual Plan that aims to keep the average residential rates increase to two per cent above inflation – an approach requested by Elected Members on 24 September.

The rates increase is significantly lower than the 7.5 per cent proposed in the council's Long Term Plan 2018-28.

Funding was retained for priority areas that were identified in the Long Term Plan such as land supply and urban form, transport, environmental standards and resilience to natural disaster.

In order to meet the reduced rates target, staff reported on options for adjusting the Council's budget in a wide range of areas.

These included re-prioritising existing resources, proposed interest rate changes and reduction of funding across activities that were not identified as priority areas in the Long Term Plan.

The indicative draft Annual Plan was approved after Chief Financial Officer Paul Davidson told Council that staff were confident service levels could be maintained in the short term.

'This adjustment keeps our aspirations for growth while retaining existing levels of service," says Mayor Greg Brownless.

'It achieves these goals while meeting the needs of ratepayers to keep their rates affordable.”

Staff will report back to Council on some aspects of the plan early next year. A draft Annual Plan will be considered by Council in early 2019.

The Annual Plan sets the budget and work plan for the year beginning 1 July 2019, and identifies what has changed from the Long Term Plan.

It describes the Council's direction for the coming year, provides accountability to the community, and determines the extent of any rates increases.

You may also like....

9 comments

TCC

Posted on 19-12-2018 12:56 | By overit

I wish I didn't HAVE to give you money to WASTE. I want to see every Councillor gone in the next Election.


Cute ...

Posted on 19-12-2018 14:09 | By chancer

Council suck a number out of thin air for out new valuations, which are over inflated, and still sting us an extra 3.7%. The entire local body rating system needs an overhaul but that comes from Government level - change the relevant Local Body Act. Let's start a movement towards that ????


Of course,

Posted on 19-12-2018 14:25 | By nerak

this is quite separate from the (in my case) 1k/year increase to rates caused by revaluation?


Here we go again

Posted on 19-12-2018 15:11 | By Taffy

How about TCC informing us how much extra income they hope to collect as a result of the new valuations just released ,at this stage I have no idea what my rates will increase due to the new figures and now even before we know TCC are proposing a 3.7% increase and no doubt the 3.7% will be on top of any increase due to the new valuations.Totally agree with overit.


election promise

Posted on 19-12-2018 16:21 | By hapukafin

I stand corrected but from what I recall from election promises of many councillors the rise was to curb the rate rise and was nowhere near 3.7%


It is so that

Posted on 19-12-2018 16:46 | By R1Squid

Council is able award themselves higher than average inflation remuneration adjustments to do what they appear to not so good at doing, that is - saving money.


@ Taffy

Posted on 19-12-2018 20:19 | By Ian Stevenson

Well they wont know yet as they are still making up all the stories needed to self justify then completely ignore all the genunine views expressed by thise bothering to turn up and tell them how it is. The rates for high value properties will rocket even more than average (the 3.7% odd is an average only). Commercail rates will have a massive increase becasue Council is shovelling move there as they desperately try to get money from anywhere to keep the spending going.


Modern day Pirates

Posted on 19-12-2018 20:58 | By Slim Shady

The whole shooting match is as crooked as a dog’s hind leg.


Sick of it

Posted on 20-12-2018 09:18 | By roseh

How on my own on a single pension am I supposed to keep Up I can't waste Money But this council does it often.Like to know how they got the Valuatoin of my property.Over priced if I was selling but another rate catcher.Needs a big clean out next election for sure.


Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.