Lower Hutt City 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.
Engage in a process to ensure rates management is transparent and robust and that each dollar goes as far as possible.
Ensure information regarding fees and charges is readily available so residents can see where other money is coming from, eg parking.
Ensure that in building development cases, required infrastructure improvement costs, eg water, are met by developers.
Conduct a line-by-line review of council spending to cut any waste and prioritise essentials.
Keep rates affordable by focusing on core services before adding new projects.
Use debt only to spread the cost of big projects fairly across generations.
Consider decisions through a short, medium and long-term lens so that the risk is not predominantly held by only future generations.
Focus on ensuring the basics are covered and met, with transparent communication with the community, so that rates investment is understood.
Measure and value the cost of things in more than financial terms, ie environmental and health, as they will save costs in the future.
Initiate an in-depth review of the budget with a focus on employment and operational costs.
Modify parking rates to include 30-minute free parking, 30-minute grace after timer has expired and increase rate to $4 per hour.
Fight for lower rates increases and change council's plan to continue double-digit increases through better financial discipline.
Reduce council spending through a comprehensive independent review of costs and deliver a more affordable future for communities.
Review council's investment strategy and set targets for a balance between profit generation to offset rate rises and social outcomes.
Engage in a process to ensure rates management is transparent and robust and that each dollar goes as far as possible.
Ensure information regarding fees and charges is readily available so residents can see where other money is coming from, eg parking.
Ensure that in building development cases, required infrastructure improvement costs, eg water, are met by developers.
Conduct a line-by-line review of council spending to cut any waste and prioritise essentials.
Keep rates affordable by focusing on core services before adding new projects.
Use debt only to spread the cost of big projects fairly across generations.
Consider decisions through a short, medium and long-term lens so that the risk is not predominantly held by only future generations.
Focus on ensuring the basics are covered and met, with transparent communication with the community, so that rates investment is understood.
Measure and value the cost of things in more than financial terms, ie environmental and health, as they will save costs in the future.
Initiate an in-depth review of the budget with a focus on employment and operational costs.
Modify parking rates to include 30-minute free parking, 30-minute grace after timer has expired and increase rate to $4 per hour.
Fight for lower rates increases and change council's plan to continue double-digit increases through better financial discipline.
Reduce council spending through a comprehensive independent review of costs and deliver a more affordable future for communities.
Review council's investment strategy and set targets for a balance between profit generation to offset rate rises and social outcomes.
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