Mayor of Upper Hutt
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.
Drive the rates review that the council will undergo in 2026.
Ensure that rates are distributed fairly across residential, rural, commercial and industrial properties.
Increase revenue from developer contributions that support long-term infrastructure, environmental protection and community services.
Actively consider other revenue streams including, but not limited to, lobbying government to ensure all their properties contribute to rates.
Lead budget planning that is sustainable across the triple bottom line and takes into account financial pressure on all the community.
Make sensible decisions on expenditure to balance cost pressures, affordability and the need to continually improve infrastructure.
Commit to infrastructure spending and no-frills spending.
Commit to reducing council debt.
Review all long-term plan projects.
Reprioritise council expenditure towards key infrastructure.
Reduce debt by removing items from the long term plan that are not must-haves and refocus on reducing debt.
Review rates to ensure fairness and transparency and investigate rating on land versus capital value.
Avoid rates increasing more than necessary by driving good value from public spending using proper procurement and financial controls.
Ensure developers pay their fair share towards development costs so ratepayers are not picking up the tab.
Overhaul the council's approach to financial transparency by establishing an oversight review panel for major projects.
Drive the rates review that the council will undergo in 2026.
Ensure that rates are distributed fairly across residential, rural, commercial and industrial properties.
Increase revenue from developer contributions that support long-term infrastructure, environmental protection and community services.
Actively consider other revenue streams including, but not limited to, lobbying government to ensure all their properties contribute to rates.
Lead budget planning that is sustainable across the triple bottom line and takes into account financial pressure on all the community.
Make sensible decisions on expenditure to balance cost pressures, affordability and the need to continually improve infrastructure.
Commit to infrastructure spending and no-frills spending.
Commit to reducing council debt.
Review all long-term plan projects.
Reprioritise council expenditure towards key infrastructure.
Reduce debt by removing items from the long term plan that are not must-haves and refocus on reducing debt.
Review rates to ensure fairness and transparency and investigate rating on land versus capital value.
Avoid rates increasing more than necessary by driving good value from public spending using proper procurement and financial controls.
Ensure developers pay their fair share towards development costs so ratepayers are not picking up the tab.
Overhaul the council's approach to financial transparency by establishing an oversight review panel for major projects.
Mayor
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