Nelson City Council

Nelson City At Large
The Nelson City Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also passes local regulations and makes decisions about infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage, and about the region’s resources, including water, soil and the coastline. The council is made up of 12 councillors and the mayor. This election is for the three councillors elected by all voters in the city. The other councillors will be elected to represent wards (areas in the city.) This is a single transferable vote (STV) election, so you vote by ranking the candidates on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Nelson City Council election.

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.

  • Control expenditure increases to the level of inflation.

    Limit charges to a one-off event to prevent continual charging from internal inefficiencies.

    Limit debt to expenditures for capital assets of a long duration.

  • Apply understanding of financial management, strategic planning, finance and budgeting from running a business for 37 years.

    Examine council investments that appear to be going into private hands and evaluate whether that benefits the security of the community.

    Review council debt, which appears rather high at 200 percent, and consider reasons such as rising insurance prices.

  • Adopt a ratepayer assistance scheme that provides low-interest loans for making homes energy-efficient, installing solar and deferring rates.

    Consider congestion charging to pay transport costs.

    Explore a levy on polluting activities to fund activities that seek to mitigate or respond to problems arising from pollution.

  • Reinstate the finance committee and finance advisors to the committee.

    Bring back financial training workshops for new councillors to better inform financial management strategies.

    Reinstate original debt and rates caps for annual plan and long-term plan budgets.

  • Grow non-rates income through smart investments and asset utilisation.

    Manage debt responsibly to protect future generations from excessive costs.

    Prioritise spending on essential services to keep rates rises as low as possible.

  • Control expenditure increases to the level of inflation.

    Limit charges to a one-off event to prevent continual charging from internal inefficiencies.

    Limit debt to expenditures for capital assets of a long duration.

  • Apply understanding of financial management, strategic planning, finance and budgeting from running a business for 37 years.

    Examine council investments that appear to be going into private hands and evaluate whether that benefits the security of the community.

    Review council debt, which appears rather high at 200 percent, and consider reasons such as rising insurance prices.

  • Adopt a ratepayer assistance scheme that provides low-interest loans for making homes energy-efficient, installing solar and deferring rates.

    Consider congestion charging to pay transport costs.

    Explore a levy on polluting activities to fund activities that seek to mitigate or respond to problems arising from pollution.

  • Reinstate the finance committee and finance advisors to the committee.

    Bring back financial training workshops for new councillors to better inform financial management strategies.

    Reinstate original debt and rates caps for annual plan and long-term plan budgets.

  • Grow non-rates income through smart investments and asset utilisation.

    Manage debt responsibly to protect future generations from excessive costs.

    Prioritise spending on essential services to keep rates rises as low as possible.