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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  • Ensure transfer of water assets via the new Water Services Delivery Plan does not become an opportunity to max out the Visa.

  • Require a compliance sheet highlighting rating impact for every decision involving additional ratepayer funds.

  • Support intergenerational debt for necessary infrastructure with greater care to avoid burdening future generations.

  • Focus spending on core services first, including roads, rubbish, drainage and water, before nice to haves.

  • Set clear KPIs for financial performance to ensure accountability and transparency.

  • Seek external funding through central government, partnerships and grants before raising rates.

  • Ensure that rates rises are affordable and kept to a minimum, as increased council expenditure can mean more costs to ratepayers.

  • Focus council on its core role of providing services to ratepayers and divest from activities outside this role.

  • Manage debt levels to keep them affordable and avoid unnecessary expenditure that may lead to increased debt.

  • Keep rates low by cutting wasteful projects and focusing on essential services ratepayers rely on.

  • Review underused council assets and reinvest funds into infrastructure such as roads and water.

  • Scrutinise every dollar of spending to guarantee maximum value for ratepayers.

  • I have withdrawn my candidacy.

  • Advocate for councils by pushing for GST on rates to be returned from central government to keep rates down for communities.

  • Engage with communities to balance what they want spent on rates with what they can afford.

  • Support fair funding by using tools like development contributions and chasing external funding opportunities.

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