Bay of Plenty 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.
Protect ratepayers' money. No more losses like the Marine Precinct, where $5 million of regional funds went in but ratepayers got nothing back.
Endeavour to get value for money in all things, be transparent and minimise rates.
Audit all council spending to eliminate waste and prioritise genuine community benefit including animal and environmental protection.
Redirect funds from wasteful projects to essential services including nature, animal welfare and biodiversity programmes.
Review every council cost and process to maximise value whilst maintaining lean, efficient governance.
Control costs before imposing a rates cap that will adversely impact future ratepayers and the ability for councils to fund infrastructure.
Increase council's access to funds for key projects without overburdening ratepayers through diversifying income sources, eg port dividends.
Negotiate solutions with central government on revenue streams to reduce ratepayer burden, as current funding tools, eg rates, are inadequate.
Advocate and vote to minimise rates increases, noting that Bay of Plenty Regional Council has the lowest rate rises in the country.
Manage the council's assets built up over decades to maximise the benefit for the whole region.
Aim for zero rate increases.
Keep rates affordable.
Manage council investments to maximise profits and reduce rate increases.
Support regional council in recognising the community's concerns about rates affordability and responding to that.
Explore public private partnership for multimodal transport network with more travel choices like smaller electric buses, rail and ferries.
Support cross-organisational collaboration between councils, central government, NZTA and Port of Tauranga for the Skyway truck freight route.
Support prudent financial management and reduce council debt by being open to selling some council investments to finance infrastructure.
Consider a biodiversity targeted rate.
Continue to support the growth of our endowment fund through Quayside Holdings to enable regional benefit now and for future generations.
Ensure value for money for our communities by creating efficiencies across council and expanding shared services and expertise.
Support efficient and effective spend and user pays where appropriate.
Prioritise council debt reduction over vanity projects and consultant-heavy initiatives to restore fiscal discipline and public trust.
Remove consent fees for rainwater tanks and sustainability upgrades to encourage climate resilience and reduce barriers to self-sufficiency.
Tie executive bonuses to real service gains such as faster responses and better outcomes rather than vague internal metrics as ratepayers deserve results.
Ensure spending decisions deliver clear value for ratepayers.
Invest Port of Tauranga returns wisely to keep rates affordable.
Action a comprehensive council funding and financing review based on principles of fairness and affordability of rates and user fees.
Change the investment portfolio to be utilised for short, medium- and long-term objectives.
Create a near real-time publicly available web-based budget, KPI and activity-based budget update.
Protect ratepayers' money. No more losses like the Marine Precinct, where $5 million of regional funds went in but ratepayers got nothing back.
Endeavour to get value for money in all things, be transparent and minimise rates.
Audit all council spending to eliminate waste and prioritise genuine community benefit including animal and environmental protection.
Redirect funds from wasteful projects to essential services including nature, animal welfare and biodiversity programmes.
Review every council cost and process to maximise value whilst maintaining lean, efficient governance.
Control costs before imposing a rates cap that will adversely impact future ratepayers and the ability for councils to fund infrastructure.
Increase council's access to funds for key projects without overburdening ratepayers through diversifying income sources, eg port dividends.
Negotiate solutions with central government on revenue streams to reduce ratepayer burden, as current funding tools, eg rates, are inadequate.
Advocate and vote to minimise rates increases, noting that Bay of Plenty Regional Council has the lowest rate rises in the country.
Manage the council's assets built up over decades to maximise the benefit for the whole region.
Aim for zero rate increases.
Keep rates affordable.
Manage council investments to maximise profits and reduce rate increases.
Support regional council in recognising the community's concerns about rates affordability and responding to that.
Explore public private partnership for multimodal transport network with more travel choices like smaller electric buses, rail and ferries.
Support cross-organisational collaboration between councils, central government, NZTA and Port of Tauranga for the Skyway truck freight route.
Support prudent financial management and reduce council debt by being open to selling some council investments to finance infrastructure.
Consider a biodiversity targeted rate.
Continue to support the growth of our endowment fund through Quayside Holdings to enable regional benefit now and for future generations.
Ensure value for money for our communities by creating efficiencies across council and expanding shared services and expertise.
Support efficient and effective spend and user pays where appropriate.
Prioritise council debt reduction over vanity projects and consultant-heavy initiatives to restore fiscal discipline and public trust.
Remove consent fees for rainwater tanks and sustainability upgrades to encourage climate resilience and reduce barriers to self-sufficiency.
Tie executive bonuses to real service gains such as faster responses and better outcomes rather than vague internal metrics as ratepayers deserve results.
Ensure spending decisions deliver clear value for ratepayers.
Invest Port of Tauranga returns wisely to keep rates affordable.
Action a comprehensive council funding and financing review based on principles of fairness and affordability of rates and user fees.
Change the investment portfolio to be utilised for short, medium- and long-term objectives.
Create a near real-time publicly available web-based budget, KPI and activity-based budget update.
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