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.
Ensure value, avoid duplication between city and regional councils and advocate for increased Government support for necessary activities.
Review rating policies to encourage development in the most cost-effective, resilient and sustainable way and reduce land banking.
Review transport rates and assess whether it is still right to charge Wellington CBD businesses such large rates when fewer people are coming into the city.
Enable more housing in the city to spread the rates burden across more people as rates are relatively high due to low population growth.
Focus development around existing infrastructure rather than urban sprawl to reduce long-term infrastructure renewal costs.
Make better use of existing infrastructure before investing in big new projects, including improving bus and train services before road expansion.
Advocate to central government to change the way councils are funded to reduce the need for rates increases to provide basic services.
Advocate to central government to restore funding initiatives such as for public and active transport.
Make decisions and investments now that will reduce future costs to communities such as by avoiding development in natural hazard areas.
Encourage joint procurement of common assets, eg bus stop materials, with other councils to bring down costs.
Maintain the council's holding in Centrepoint as it generates income to reduce the burden on ratepayers.
Review future projects and spending to ensure they deliver value for money.
Ensure all investments have a business case and set out value for money.
Work with TAs, communities and mana whenua to innovate and come up with multi-functional, cost-effective solutions for climate resilience.
Find further efficiencies within regional council operations.
Reduce council rate demands.
Seek greater returns for ratepayers from the regional council's shareholding in Centreport.
Enable more housing in the city to spread the rates burden across more people as rates are relatively high due to low population growth.
Focus development around existing infrastructure rather than urban sprawl to reduce long-term infrastructure renewal costs.
Make better use of existing infrastructure before investing in big new projects, for example improve bus and train services before road expansion.
Work together to apply to the Regional Infrastructure Fund for a "ready to go" project that aligns with regional priorities.
Prioritise addressing existing infrastructure issues to ensure essential services are maintained and prevent further decline.
Conduct a rigorous review of all expenditure and eliminate non-essential spending to ensure resources are allocated efficiently.
Ensure rate increases are kept affordable, opposing current councils' excessive increases. Focus on core must-haves to reduce costs.
Ensure Wellingtonians' and ratepayers' money is spent wisely with in-depth review of contractor costs as every dollar counts.
Review under-used council assets and, where appropriate, reinvest into roads, water systems, beaches, Wellington Port and transport.
Ensure value, avoid duplication between city and regional councils and advocate for increased Government support for necessary activities.
Review rating policies to encourage development in the most cost-effective, resilient and sustainable way and reduce land banking.
Review transport rates and assess whether it is still right to charge Wellington CBD businesses such large rates when fewer people are coming into the city.
Enable more housing in the city to spread the rates burden across more people as rates are relatively high due to low population growth.
Focus development around existing infrastructure rather than urban sprawl to reduce long-term infrastructure renewal costs.
Make better use of existing infrastructure before investing in big new projects, including improving bus and train services before road expansion.
Advocate to central government to change the way councils are funded to reduce the need for rates increases to provide basic services.
Advocate to central government to restore funding initiatives such as for public and active transport.
Make decisions and investments now that will reduce future costs to communities such as by avoiding development in natural hazard areas.
Encourage joint procurement of common assets, eg bus stop materials, with other councils to bring down costs.
Maintain the council's holding in Centrepoint as it generates income to reduce the burden on ratepayers.
Review future projects and spending to ensure they deliver value for money.
Ensure all investments have a business case and set out value for money.
Work with TAs, communities and mana whenua to innovate and come up with multi-functional, cost-effective solutions for climate resilience.
Find further efficiencies within regional council operations.
Reduce council rate demands.
Seek greater returns for ratepayers from the regional council's shareholding in Centreport.
Enable more housing in the city to spread the rates burden across more people as rates are relatively high due to low population growth.
Focus development around existing infrastructure rather than urban sprawl to reduce long-term infrastructure renewal costs.
Make better use of existing infrastructure before investing in big new projects, for example improve bus and train services before road expansion.
Work together to apply to the Regional Infrastructure Fund for a "ready to go" project that aligns with regional priorities.
Prioritise addressing existing infrastructure issues to ensure essential services are maintained and prevent further decline.
Conduct a rigorous review of all expenditure and eliminate non-essential spending to ensure resources are allocated efficiently.
Ensure rate increases are kept affordable, opposing current councils' excessive increases. Focus on core must-haves to reduce costs.
Ensure Wellingtonians' and ratepayers' money is spent wisely with in-depth review of contractor costs as every dollar counts.
Review under-used council assets and, where appropriate, reinvest into roads, water systems, beaches, Wellington Port and transport.
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