Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Rates and revenue
The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.
Rates and revenue
The work of local government is funded mainly by property taxes in the local area, known as rates. This makes up around 60% of council expenditure, with the rest coming from user charges, investment income, regulatory fees and roading subsidies. Councils can also borrow money to spread the cost of large investments such as infrastructure over a longer period of time.
Reduce "working group, consulting and think tank" expenditure. We have experience and expertise in our communities, let's use it.
Ensuring council operating costs are reasonable and that the investments and income are well-managed and that we provide quality service.
Review local government funding and financing to ensure viability and sustainability, fairness and equity and maximum well being.
Current councillors have budgeted for a generous 35% increase in rates over the next three years. No increase should be needed over that.
Treat the ratepayer dollar like my own. I will be wary of grandiose schemes based on fuzzy thinking.
Control rate rises in line with the consumer price index not just increase in values, which can rate some people out of their homes.
Run the council like a business with similar debt-to-equity ratios that any reasonable business would adhere to.
Keep fees and charges affordable for the average person.
Commit to efficiency and effectiveness. We must stop wasteful expenditure but taking an action orientated approach.
Collect and spend rates in a fair way. Sub-regional rate takes need to be spent within that sub-region, preventing cross subsidisation.
Use some of the Quayside dividend to improve regional infrastructure.
Prudent management of council investments. Exercise wise expenditure. Urgently revise transportation plan to a sustainable long-term model.
Revise/update policies. Urban sprawl is hugely inefficient, eternally expensive and highly impactive. Build resilient layout for easy transit.
Minimise borrowing but balance with affordability and priorities of community needs. Review fees and charges when circumstances demand.
Seek a review of whether the council, being a majority owner of the Port of Tauranga, has affected its regulatory role in the past 30 years.
Ask if there are better opportunities to be achieved for our communities from $2.4 billion worth of public assets than the current arrangements.
Review whether environmental standards and fiscal management has and still is suffering as a result of the Quayside/council relationship.
Review the rating system to provide an equitable balance between the general rate and special rates across the region based on benefit.
Reduce the level of reliance of the Quayside dividend to substitute the rates over time to re-invest in direct community well being.
Maintain a fair and transparent user charges system that is based on a private and public benefit split.
Pushing for fair contributions to the region's growth from developers, polluters pay for environmental harm.
Supporting commitment to fair, sustainable rates.
Prevent spending asset capital on projects that don't address climate change, management of debt to support climate action and resilience.
Ensure a fair, balanced and practical user pays policy is implemented. Integrate public transport, bikeways, charging station activity parks.
Survey council investment and measure against ratepayer expectations! Community inclusion, global scientific environmental data! Non political.
Survey data. Ensure all council debt has a measurable beneficial return on investment or social impact. Axe programs not providing value.
Pro-development contributions for developers up front for expansion of infrastructure for greenfield developments (new suburbs).
Prudent financial management and oversight. From previous governance positions, independent annual audit process.
Understanding and full information disclosure on council investments before supporting in a governance role.
Reduce "working group, consulting and think tank" expenditure. We have experience and expertise in our communities, let's use it.
Ensuring council operating costs are reasonable and that the investments and income are well-managed and that we provide quality service.
Review local government funding and financing to ensure viability and sustainability, fairness and equity and maximum well being.
Current councillors have budgeted for a generous 35% increase in rates over the next three years. No increase should be needed over that.
Treat the ratepayer dollar like my own. I will be wary of grandiose schemes based on fuzzy thinking.
Control rate rises in line with the consumer price index not just increase in values, which can rate some people out of their homes.
Run the council like a business with similar debt-to-equity ratios that any reasonable business would adhere to.
Keep fees and charges affordable for the average person.
Commit to efficiency and effectiveness. We must stop wasteful expenditure but taking an action orientated approach.
Collect and spend rates in a fair way. Sub-regional rate takes need to be spent within that sub-region, preventing cross subsidisation.
Use some of the Quayside dividend to improve regional infrastructure.
Prudent management of council investments. Exercise wise expenditure. Urgently revise transportation plan to a sustainable long-term model.
Revise/update policies. Urban sprawl is hugely inefficient, eternally expensive and highly impactive. Build resilient layout for easy transit.
Minimise borrowing but balance with affordability and priorities of community needs. Review fees and charges when circumstances demand.
Seek a review of whether the council, being a majority owner of the Port of Tauranga, has affected its regulatory role in the past 30 years.
Ask if there are better opportunities to be achieved for our communities from $2.4 billion worth of public assets than the current arrangements.
Review whether environmental standards and fiscal management has and still is suffering as a result of the Quayside/council relationship.
Review the rating system to provide an equitable balance between the general rate and special rates across the region based on benefit.
Reduce the level of reliance of the Quayside dividend to substitute the rates over time to re-invest in direct community well being.
Maintain a fair and transparent user charges system that is based on a private and public benefit split.
Pushing for fair contributions to the region's growth from developers, polluters pay for environmental harm.
Supporting commitment to fair, sustainable rates.
Prevent spending asset capital on projects that don't address climate change, management of debt to support climate action and resilience.
Ensure a fair, balanced and practical user pays policy is implemented. Integrate public transport, bikeways, charging station activity parks.
Survey council investment and measure against ratepayer expectations! Community inclusion, global scientific environmental data! Non political.
Survey data. Ensure all council debt has a measurable beneficial return on investment or social impact. Axe programs not providing value.
Pro-development contributions for developers up front for expansion of infrastructure for greenfield developments (new suburbs).
Prudent financial management and oversight. From previous governance positions, independent annual audit process.
Understanding and full information disclosure on council investments before supporting in a governance role.
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