Greater Wellington 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.
Rates: keep rates down by focusing on core roles and responsibilities.
Public ownership: bring parts of Metlink operations under control.
Transport fares: reduce Metlink fares further – encouraging mode shift and giving more people the freedom of the city.
Recognise that Covid-19 is increasing cost of living of ratepayers, and balance the increasing need for service with affordability of rates.
Use innovative funding tools eg Low Carbon Acceleration Fund and advocate for 'value uplift capture' as new funding tool for infrastructure.
Support government reforms that will reduce pressure on ratepayers, eg Three Waters reform capacity for $180 billion of water services infrastructure in New Zealand.
Fund cheaper public transport by increasing urban residential rates.
Review the rate charged to Wellington CBD businesses, with a view to using targeted rates programmes to give small business rates relief.
Remove rates charged on native forestry blocks protected by QE11 Trust covenants.
Ensure the rating system is transparent, fair and evidence-based.
Make decisions around carbon reduction and infrastructure that won't cost us more in the future.
Use targeted rates to incentivise positive community outcomes and fairly attribute cost.
Make our region attractive and compelling for government investment by being coordinated and focused with long term strategic plans.
Build our rating base by making the region attractive to workers through improved rental housing, and active and public transport services.
Make rating fairer: end land banking, make polluters pay and get landowners to contribute to infrastructure that increases their land value.
Ensure fiscal prudence is an essential ingredient in keeping costs fair and reasonable. I advocate for transparency and accountability.
Advocate for new revenue streams to be found. Can ensure any rates rises are fair and reasonable. Cuts are not always the best option.
Introduce best practice methods in peer reviewing major infrastructure and or transport projects to maximise return on investment.
Ensure prudent and fiscal responsibility – to improve the well-being of the region, its people and the environment for all future generations.
Invest in strategic assets, eg CentrePort and public transport infrastructure (depots, electric vehicle charging infrastructure) and fleet.
Ensure debt is managed within the debt ceiling, to build assets to serve public good.
Ensure the regional council uses its revenue on its core functions: environment, transport, and infrastructure.
Reduce rates over time to reflect the smaller footprint that the regional council will have following the government's water reforms.
Prioritise financial prudence and value for money.
Make our region attractive and compelling for government investment by being coordinated and focused with long term strategic plans.
Build our rating base by making the region attractive to workers through improved rental housing and active and public transport services.
Make rating fairer: end land banking, make polluters pay and get landowners to contribute to infrastructure that increases their land value.
Rates: keep rates down by focusing on core roles and responsibilities.
Public ownership: bring parts of Metlink operations under control.
Transport fares: reduce Metlink fares further – encouraging mode shift and giving more people the freedom of the city.
Recognise that Covid-19 is increasing cost of living of ratepayers, and balance the increasing need for service with affordability of rates.
Use innovative funding tools eg Low Carbon Acceleration Fund and advocate for 'value uplift capture' as new funding tool for infrastructure.
Support government reforms that will reduce pressure on ratepayers, eg Three Waters reform capacity for $180 billion of water services infrastructure in New Zealand.
Fund cheaper public transport by increasing urban residential rates.
Review the rate charged to Wellington CBD businesses, with a view to using targeted rates programmes to give small business rates relief.
Remove rates charged on native forestry blocks protected by QE11 Trust covenants.
Ensure the rating system is transparent, fair and evidence-based.
Make decisions around carbon reduction and infrastructure that won't cost us more in the future.
Use targeted rates to incentivise positive community outcomes and fairly attribute cost.
Make our region attractive and compelling for government investment by being coordinated and focused with long term strategic plans.
Build our rating base by making the region attractive to workers through improved rental housing, and active and public transport services.
Make rating fairer: end land banking, make polluters pay and get landowners to contribute to infrastructure that increases their land value.
Ensure fiscal prudence is an essential ingredient in keeping costs fair and reasonable. I advocate for transparency and accountability.
Advocate for new revenue streams to be found. Can ensure any rates rises are fair and reasonable. Cuts are not always the best option.
Introduce best practice methods in peer reviewing major infrastructure and or transport projects to maximise return on investment.
Ensure prudent and fiscal responsibility – to improve the well-being of the region, its people and the environment for all future generations.
Invest in strategic assets, eg CentrePort and public transport infrastructure (depots, electric vehicle charging infrastructure) and fleet.
Ensure debt is managed within the debt ceiling, to build assets to serve public good.
Ensure the regional council uses its revenue on its core functions: environment, transport, and infrastructure.
Reduce rates over time to reflect the smaller footprint that the regional council will have following the government's water reforms.
Prioritise financial prudence and value for money.
Make our region attractive and compelling for government investment by being coordinated and focused with long term strategic plans.
Build our rating base by making the region attractive to workers through improved rental housing and active and public transport services.
Make rating fairer: end land banking, make polluters pay and get landowners to contribute to infrastructure that increases their land value.
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