Mayor of Kāpiti
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.
Bring rates back in line with the 5% ceiling of average household income that was surpassed at the last long-term plan.
Explore, develop and implement alternative income streams to ease the rate burden on households.
Ensure growth pays for growth, not subsidised by ratepayers. Policies and development contributions should reflect this, alongside efficient regulation.
Ensure debt is thought of as intergenerational and do not overly burden current ratepayers.
Ensure that when spending money, it is spent wisely, focusing on necessities, not nice-to-haves.
Push harder for alternative funding streams; central government should pay rates on its facilities and share GST revenue.
Ensure all investments deliver a return on investment of more than 10% and that fees and charges reflect the true cost of enforcement and infrastructure loading.
Recognise that rates are set by previous year's expenses beyond the incoming council's control and apply prudent fiscal management to manage rates.
Reduce debt, the single largest issue, in preference to rates reductions, with charges and fees contributing to debt reduction.
Keep fees and charges affordable for families to access services while making fees and charges for development cover the cost of growth.
Review playground provision and other activities to reduce rates.
Stick with the financial strategy to reduce debt.
Find ways to reduce cost through increased efficiency of service delivery and reduced procurement costs.
Reduce Council debt to reduce interest costs and create borrowing headroom which allows lowering insurance cover.
Strike the right balance between rates affordability, future financial sustainability of core services and debt reduction.
Bring rates back in line with the 5% ceiling of average household income that was surpassed at the last long-term plan.
Explore, develop and implement alternative income streams to ease the rate burden on households.
Ensure growth pays for growth, not subsidised by ratepayers. Policies and development contributions should reflect this, alongside efficient regulation.
Ensure debt is thought of as intergenerational and do not overly burden current ratepayers.
Ensure that when spending money, it is spent wisely, focusing on necessities, not nice-to-haves.
Push harder for alternative funding streams; central government should pay rates on its facilities and share GST revenue.
Ensure all investments deliver a return on investment of more than 10% and that fees and charges reflect the true cost of enforcement and infrastructure loading.
Recognise that rates are set by previous year's expenses beyond the incoming council's control and apply prudent fiscal management to manage rates.
Reduce debt, the single largest issue, in preference to rates reductions, with charges and fees contributing to debt reduction.
Keep fees and charges affordable for families to access services while making fees and charges for development cover the cost of growth.
Review playground provision and other activities to reduce rates.
Stick with the financial strategy to reduce debt.
Find ways to reduce cost through increased efficiency of service delivery and reduced procurement costs.
Reduce Council debt to reduce interest costs and create borrowing headroom which allows lowering insurance cover.
Strike the right balance between rates affordability, future financial sustainability of core services and debt reduction.
Mayor
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