Environment Southland
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.
Match rates to need.
"Polluter" pays fairly and transparently, for polluting.
Use the advantage and lever of debt sparingly and wisely.
Keep rates to the lowest level possible.
Manage council activities and investments to give the best return for ratepayers in reducing rates and avoiding debt.
Reflect actual and reasonable fees for council services.
Ensure rates increases are kept in line with the rate of inflation, while recognising the need to ensure essential programmes are maintained.
Work with other councils and the government to optimise the use of efficient governance processes and management practices.
Employ independent governance expertise to ensure council finance and audit committees are performing efficiently and effectively.
Continue to advance development of council's risk management framework and its implementation.
Evaluate use of debt, rates and investment in order to help meet increasing demands on council services.
Push for central government's financial support of the broadening demands they and the community are placing on regional council.
Maximise government based revenue to offset rate-based income.
Undertake a review of council activities to ensure a lack of duplication between local authorities.
Encourage cooperation between local authorities to ensure economies of scale.
Seek more financial support from central government, with the increasing pressures on council services.
Look at local investment opportunities and grow existing ones, increasing the proportion of revenue council receives from investments.
Continue to keep rates rises at a minimum.
Match rates to need.
"Polluter" pays fairly and transparently, for polluting.
Use the advantage and lever of debt sparingly and wisely.
Keep rates to the lowest level possible.
Manage council activities and investments to give the best return for ratepayers in reducing rates and avoiding debt.
Reflect actual and reasonable fees for council services.
Ensure rates increases are kept in line with the rate of inflation, while recognising the need to ensure essential programmes are maintained.
Work with other councils and the government to optimise the use of efficient governance processes and management practices.
Employ independent governance expertise to ensure council finance and audit committees are performing efficiently and effectively.
Continue to advance development of council's risk management framework and its implementation.
Evaluate use of debt, rates and investment in order to help meet increasing demands on council services.
Push for central government's financial support of the broadening demands they and the community are placing on regional council.
Maximise government based revenue to offset rate-based income.
Undertake a review of council activities to ensure a lack of duplication between local authorities.
Encourage cooperation between local authorities to ensure economies of scale.
Seek more financial support from central government, with the increasing pressures on council services.
Look at local investment opportunities and grow existing ones, increasing the proportion of revenue council receives from investments.
Continue to keep rates rises at a minimum.
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