Selwyn District 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.
Work with communities to deliver their vision and present a clear, upfront price tag for every single proposal.
Prioritise all spending on essential services to live within means.
Commit to finding savings across all council budgets and redirect every dollar to aggressively pay down the district's existing debt.
Be clear with potential homeowners that if development contributions do not recoup all costs of urban sprawl, they could be levied in future.
Continue investigating investment and disinvestment opportunities, which can be used to reduce rates or fund intergenerational initiatives.
Ensure that residents get the best value for money from rates and that efficiencies are not achieved at the expense of community needs.
Advocate for GST on new build homes to be returned to council and continue seeking alternative income rather than relying on rates.
Commit to transparent, prudent financial planning using long-term budgeting and line-by-line reviews of spending to avoid wasteful spending.
Review all financial policies for efficiency.
Eliminate wasteful spending and defer nice to have projects.
Limit future borrowings so that future generations will not be saddled with unwanted debt.
Limit future rate rises by focusing on essential services.
Require developers to pay their fair share for infrastructure in new subdivisions so costs are not pushed onto existing residents.
Keep rates affordable by cutting wasteful spending and focusing only on what benefits the community.
Review council fees and charges regularly to make sure they are fair and not pricing young people and families out of community facilities.
Deliver what the people want for their community. Advise the community of the cost of that delivery immediately and transparently.
Find savings in any budget and create savings by reducing capital expenditure. Put any savings back into paying down the $168 million debt Selwyn District Council accrued.
Review expenses, cut costs, spend on essential services and spend only the revenue available. Allow the public to decide if further debt is appropriate.
Be transparent with residents about all financial aspects of where, why and how the money is being used.
Stop excessive and unnecessary spending and concentrate on essential infrastructure, not nice to haves, until debt is substantially reduced.
Review all council debt, including who they are borrowing from, what the interest rates are and what is being used as security on this debt.
Keep rates affordable by prioritising spending on core services and avoiding unnecessary projects.
Manage council finances prudently to reduce debt, maintain reserves and protect ratepayer funds.
Review fees, charges and investments to ensure they deliver value, support essential services and avoid hidden costs to residents.
Work with communities to deliver their vision and present a clear, upfront price tag for every single proposal.
Prioritise all spending on essential services to live within means.
Commit to finding savings across all council budgets and redirect every dollar to aggressively pay down the district's existing debt.
Be clear with potential homeowners that if development contributions do not recoup all costs of urban sprawl, they could be levied in future.
Continue investigating investment and disinvestment opportunities, which can be used to reduce rates or fund intergenerational initiatives.
Ensure that residents get the best value for money from rates and that efficiencies are not achieved at the expense of community needs.
Advocate for GST on new build homes to be returned to council and continue seeking alternative income rather than relying on rates.
Commit to transparent, prudent financial planning using long-term budgeting and line-by-line reviews of spending to avoid wasteful spending.
Review all financial policies for efficiency.
Eliminate wasteful spending and defer nice to have projects.
Limit future borrowings so that future generations will not be saddled with unwanted debt.
Limit future rate rises by focusing on essential services.
Require developers to pay their fair share for infrastructure in new subdivisions so costs are not pushed onto existing residents.
Keep rates affordable by cutting wasteful spending and focusing only on what benefits the community.
Review council fees and charges regularly to make sure they are fair and not pricing young people and families out of community facilities.
Deliver what the people want for their community. Advise the community of the cost of that delivery immediately and transparently.
Find savings in any budget and create savings by reducing capital expenditure. Put any savings back into paying down the $168 million debt Selwyn District Council accrued.
Review expenses, cut costs, spend on essential services and spend only the revenue available. Allow the public to decide if further debt is appropriate.
Be transparent with residents about all financial aspects of where, why and how the money is being used.
Stop excessive and unnecessary spending and concentrate on essential infrastructure, not nice to haves, until debt is substantially reduced.
Review all council debt, including who they are borrowing from, what the interest rates are and what is being used as security on this debt.
Keep rates affordable by prioritising spending on core services and avoiding unnecessary projects.
Manage council finances prudently to reduce debt, maintain reserves and protect ratepayer funds.
Review fees, charges and investments to ensure they deliver value, support essential services and avoid hidden costs to residents.
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