Policies

Compare the parties’ positions on the key issues this election. Explore their policies and see how closely they align with your own views and priorities.

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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.

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  • Establish a baseline rate increase that does not exceed inflation. With CEO and elected members review rating and find new sensible solutions.

  • Review Far North Holdings to determine if it is giving the best return, is transparent enough, accountable and serving the district.

  • Leverage central government to collaborate to action, fund and address the equity, geographic, economic, demographic challenges.

  • Rates are going up, they should for the right reasons and not lumped onto small investors to support large.

  • Council will abolish dog registration fees for working dogs, establish animal care/training centres. New animal welfare codes and staff.

  • Council will invest in ventures suitable for better fiscal returns.

  • Engage with you, the people, in order to reprioritise what you want us to spend rates on vs how much you can afford for us to rate.

  • Show the funding and cost stream in plain english to our people.

  • Regularly review if we have got our priorities right. In a focus group setting.

  • Implement development contributions, reduce unnecessary waste and expenditure, and establish other funding sources like the Innovation Park.

  • Complete the Long Term Asset Funding project to establish rating for assets that matches community affordability and wellbeing aspirations.

  • Reduce council debt, hold rates, fees and charges to current inflation or below, and enhance operational efficiency.

  • Reintroduce development contributions so that developers pay their fair share for new infrastructure.

  • Keep rates increases at no more than inflation plus 2% without affecting service delivery.

  • Decrease or disestablish fees for dog registration with strong penalties for non-compliance to ensure all are registered in the district.

  • Complete the work on the development contribution policy and get this embedded into business as usual.

  • Continue to work with the community on three waters affordability bearing in mind the Rating Act leaves little wriggle room.

  • Look to introduce targeted rates where ratepayer frustrations need bespoke solutions such as dust suppression.

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