Marlborough District Council

Blenheim General Ward
The Marlborough District Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also passes local regulations and makes decisions about infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage, and about the region’s resources, including water, soil and the coastline. The council is made up of 14 councillors and the mayor. Councillors are elected to represent wards (areas in the district). Seven councillors will be elected from the Blenheim ward. This is a single transferable vote (STV) election, so you vote by ranking the candidates on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Marlborough District Council election.

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.

  • Prudent and transparent use of rates for infrastructure, using an effectiveness and outcome efficiency scale to monitor dollar spend.

    Ensure council seeks opportunities to source other revenue funding, ie high value nutrition research for local aquaculture and agriculture.

    Revenue management. Keep it tight, keep it right and keep it AA plus rated.

  • Lobby government to implement a contestable infrastructure fund that can be help reduce the cost of core infrastructure for ratepayers.

    Sell excess council buildings and land in the Marlborough region to pay back debt.

    Implement user pays where appropriate to reduce rates burden.

  • Prudent and transparent use of rates for infrastructure, using an effectiveness and outcome efficiency scale to monitor dollar spend.

    Ensure council seeks opportunities to source other revenue funding, ie high value nutrition research for local aquaculture and agriculture.

    Revenue management. Keep it tight, keep it right and keep it AA plus rated.

  • Lobby government to implement a contestable infrastructure fund that can be help reduce the cost of core infrastructure for ratepayers.

    Sell excess council buildings and land in the Marlborough region to pay back debt.

    Implement user pays where appropriate to reduce rates burden.