Waikato Regional 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.
Ensure transparency and value for money by ensuring money is well spent and clearly reported, with ratepayers able to see outcomes of council investment.
Explore smarter funding tools by supporting rates relief for biodiversity and riparian protection, government co-funding and user-pays where appropriate.
Keep rates fair and affordable by prioritising core services while ensuring investments in environment, flood protection and resilience.
Ensure council focuses on core responsibilities.
Ensure robust business cases are presented for any new project or increased spend.
Limit rate increases to at or below inflation.
Ensure transparency and value for money by ensuring money is well spent and clearly reported, with ratepayers able to see outcomes of council investment.
Explore smarter funding tools by supporting rates relief for biodiversity and riparian protection, government co-funding and user-pays where appropriate.
Keep rates fair and affordable by prioritising core services while ensuring investments in environment, flood protection and resilience.
Ensure council focuses on core responsibilities.
Ensure robust business cases are presented for any new project or increased spend.
Limit rate increases to at or below inflation.
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