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.
Continue user-pays charges with higher contributions from major developers to reduce infrastructure costs for ratepayers.
Invest in long-term assets like water, roads and flood protection while keeping borrowing within safe sustainable limits.
Maintain strong financial planning with balanced budgets, fair rates and targeted debt for essential infrastructure upgrades.
Balance council's fixation on cost by introducing a mindset that sees value and seeks to maximise return on investment.
Embed the Treaty of Waitangi into applicable policies and partner in good faith with Māori.
Employ processes of value proposition and multi-criteria business case making to prioritise allocation of funding.
Ensure Hutt City Council's rates are reduced to match new bills from Metro Water for Three Waters services after July 2026.
Reset council finances with consultation, recognising projected rates increases as untenable and potentially reducing some services.
Avoid taking on any new projects and instead support existing community organisations to provide services in the city.
Ensure all council decisions and prioritising of spending are kept transparent and accountable to ensure mistakes are less likely to occur.
Ensure rates are kept balanced with inflation to avoid underinvestment in infrastructure and other council services.
Continue user-pays charges with higher contributions from major developers to reduce infrastructure costs for ratepayers.
Invest in long-term assets like water, roads and flood protection while keeping borrowing within safe sustainable limits.
Maintain strong financial planning with balanced budgets, fair rates and targeted debt for essential infrastructure upgrades.
Balance council's fixation on cost by introducing a mindset that sees value and seeks to maximise return on investment.
Embed the Treaty of Waitangi into applicable policies and partner in good faith with Māori.
Employ processes of value proposition and multi-criteria business case making to prioritise allocation of funding.
Ensure Hutt City Council's rates are reduced to match new bills from Metro Water for Three Waters services after July 2026.
Reset council finances with consultation, recognising projected rates increases as untenable and potentially reducing some services.
Avoid taking on any new projects and instead support existing community organisations to provide services in the city.
Ensure all council decisions and prioritising of spending are kept transparent and accountable to ensure mistakes are less likely to occur.
Ensure rates are kept balanced with inflation to avoid underinvestment in infrastructure and other council services.
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