Mayor of Invercargill

Ensure increased costs of service delivery are balanced against what is affordable for ratepayers when it comes to rates.

Keep charges for residents and businesses fair and affordable, now and for future generations.

Council needs to stick to its core business to ensure council debt is manageable and controllable.

Manage rates prudently. No rises above inflation. Perhaps even reduce! This is not a pipe dream. We achieve according to our determination.

Reduce council debt. Invest wisely. Pass onto future generation debt free. Be content with what we presently have.

Dare to be different. Free, time limited, street parking in town. Donate the new meters to another city. More bike stands.

Thoroughly analyse infrastructure upgrade spending, including contractor rates.

Look for ways to decrease debt incurred over recent years of development.

Conduct research – searching for efficient methods of replacing aged Invercargill City water supply pipes, sewerage and storm water systems.

Commit council to be financially vigilant and that all land investments short or long term must return a profit.

Commit council with resources and technology to further improve building consents team and increase numbers of resource consents issued.

Commit council to reducing the out of town consultancy expenses, to support local.

Reinstate the finance committee to ensure better monitoring of expenditure and escalating project costs.

Ensure that before any annual rate increase, council has undertaken extensive financial analysis of ongoing costs, looking for cost savings.

Ensure there is transparency to ratepayers over investments and reserve funding to ensure annual rates are not increasing these areas.

Hold or lower rates, major items like Three Waters should be shifted to a consumption tax, submitted such to Finance and Expenditure Committee.

Best practice financial management should continue, undertaken by council staff and advisors of all council investments and fees and charges.

Keep council debt within current limits, keep the financial rating at AA+ with a Stable Outlook, by careful debt prediction and management.

Ensure that the city is managed in a fiscally responsible way so that we can keep rates low and affordable.

Council must work within its budget, and get the best value for money for each dollar it receives from ratepayers.

Stop relying on our ratepayers as a source to fund vanity projects that we simply cannot afford.

Review Council's investments in Electricity Invercargill to ensure a good return for the city, or investigate its potential sale.

Look at a more active debt repayment process, recognising our ability to borrow may be hampered by the loss of water assets.

Ensure changes to fees and charges are clearly communicated, and in a more timely manner (prior to completion of Long Term Plan or Annual Plan).